Streaming and gaming platform Twitch will be included in the Australian federal government’s social media ban for under 16s.

On Friday, Julie Inman Grant, commissioner at eSafety, an independent government agency responsible for regulating online safety in Australia, said the platform will join Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and others on the list of social media sites with age restrictions.

Although the ban does not provide an exemption for platforms whose “sole or primary” purpose is gaming, eSafety said it found that Twitch's streaming features are primarily designed to encourage user interaction.

"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," the organisation said in a statement on its website.

The commissioner added that the visual search engine and social platform Pinterest will not be included in the ban, as the agency believes that the platform is more commonly used by individuals who collect images for inspiration and curating ideas, rather than for other types of interaction.

The announcement was made on Friday, less than three weeks before the ban comes into effect.

The new law will require tech giants including Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and X to restrict underage access or face penalties up to $50 million (AUD).The list of platforms currently includes Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Kick and now Twitch.

In November 2024, Australia passed landmark legislation prohibiting under-16s from using social media, establishing a global precedent for digital platform regulation.

Following Australia's announcement, technology secretary Peter Kyle stated in November 2023 that a UK social media ban for under-16s could be "on the table" to protect young people online.

Speaking to the BBC, Kyle pledged to "do what it takes" to safeguard children, noting additional research would examine smartphones' and social media's impact on minors due to the lack of "firm, peer-reviewed evidence". .

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