Australia Adds Twitch to Under-16 Social Media Ban

Australia's online safety regulator has added the livestreaming platform Twitch to its list of social media services banned for users under 16, effective December 10, 2025, as the country prepares to enforce one of the world's strictest restrictions on minors' online access.

The eSafety Commissioner announced the decision on November 21, 2025, citing Twitch's interactive features, including livestreaming and chat functions that enable users to communicate and engage with content. These elements qualify the Amazon-owned service as a social media platform under the Social Media Minimum Age rules, according to the regulator. A Twitch spokesperson confirmed that the platform will prevent Australians under 16 from creating new accounts starting December 10, with existing accounts for that age group scheduled for deactivation on January 9, 2026. Globally, Twitch allows users 13 and older, but requires parental involvement for those under the legal age of adulthood in their region.

Pinterest, an image-sharing site, was excluded from the ban. The commissioner explained that while it permits some social interaction, its primary purpose is collecting and curating images and ideas, which...