Australia: Australia has expanded its under-16 social media ban to include Twitch, the popular live-streaming platform used widely by teens, the country's internet regulator announced on Friday. The eSafety commissioner explained that Twitch meets the criteria for the under-16 ban due to its core interactive features.

According to Anadolu Agency, the commissioner stated, "Twitch is a platform most commonly used for live streaming or posting content that enables users, including Australian children, to interact with others in relation to the content posted." This decision reflects Australia's commitment to enhance online safety for minors by holding platforms accountable for enforcing age restrictions.

Starting December 10, major platforms such as Reddit, Kick, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat, Threads, and YouTube will face a "world-first legal obligation" to prevent individuals under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. This move places the responsibility on social media platforms, with potential fines of up to $32 million for non-compliance, while users and parents will not face penalties.

Twitch, owned by Amazon, is one of the most popular platforms for gaming, streaming, cooking, and political content. The platform announced that it will prevent Australians under 16 from setting up accounts starting December 10 and will deactivate existing underage accounts on January 9. However, Twitch will maintain its global minimum age requirement at 13.