SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia’s internet watchdog on Friday said it would include Amazon.com-owned live streaming service Twitch in its upcoming teen social media ban, but will not add image-sharing platform Pinterest to the list.
From December 10, Australia will become the world’s first country to bar people aged 16 years and under from using social media, with penalties up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for companies that fail to take “reasonable steps” to comply.
* The eSafety Commissioner said Twitch qualifies as a socialmedia service because it is primarily used for livestreaming andposting interactive content that allows users – includingchildren – to communicate with others. * Twitch plans to deactivate all user accounts for peopleaged 16 and under from January 9, and will bar new under-ageusers from creating accounts once the ban comes into force nextmonth. * Pinterest, however, will not be added to the list. TheeSafety Commissioner said that while it allows some onlinesocial interaction, that is not its main purpose, noting that itis used for collecting images and curating ideas. * Earlier this month, the commissioner expanded the ban toadd Reddit and video live streaming platform Kick. Major firmsalready covered include Meta Platforms’ Facebook and Instagram,Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and Alphabet-owned YouTube. * No further assessments will be conducted before the rulestake effect on December 10, the commissioner said.
($1 = 1.5494 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)
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