Twitch Joins Australia’s Social Media Ban for Teens Under 16

Fri Nov 21 2025 07:32:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Australia's new social media regulations will see Twitch, a popular streaming platform, barred for users under 16 starting December 10, 2025.

Twitch is now part of Australia's sweeping social media ban targeting users under 16. Effective from December 10, any accounts held by this age group will be deactivated. The move aims to protect minors from the pressures and risks associated with social media. Twitch, owned by Amazon, was included due to its interactive nature, fostering communication among users. Other platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, are also impacted as the country seeks to enforce stricter regulations on youth access to social media.

Twitch, a streaming platform popular with gamers, has been added to Australia's teen social media ban which starts next month.

It joins other platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat that must ensure under-16s cannot open accounts and existing ones are closed from 10 December.

Australia's internet regulator overseeing the ban said Twitch - owned by Amazon - has been included as its main purpose was 'online social interaction' where users were encouraged to chat with each other about posted content.

A Twitch spokesperson stated Australians under 16 will be barred from opening a Twitch account from 10 December, and by 9 January, existing under-16 accounts will be deactivated.

On the rationale behind including Twitch, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant asserted it was 'a platform most commonly used for livestreaming or posting content that enables users, including Australian children, to interact with others in relation to the content posted.'

No further platforms are anticipated to be added to the ban before the commencement date next month, Ms Inman Grant noted.

The government has earlier indicated that the ban aims to reduce the 'pressures and risks' children encounter on social media, including exposure to harmful content.

Founded in 2007, Twitch is a popular livestreaming platform where gamers play video games while chatting with viewers. Last year, it launched initiatives to share more of its revenue with creators, allowing streamers to earn money through fan subscriptions.

Twitch’s policies prohibit anyone under 13 from using its platform, with permission required for users between the ages of 13 and the legal adulthood age in their respective countries.

The ban also encompasses platforms like YouTube, Reddit, Kick, Threads, and X, mandating that tech companies take 'reasonable steps' to restrict access for under-16s or face hefty fines reaching around AUD 49.5 million (approximately USD 32 million).

Recent actions by Meta, including its announcement to begin closing accounts of teenagers under 16 from 4 December, shows momentum towards strict enforcement of this law.

How companies will enforce the ban remains uncertain, with possibilities including government IDs, face or voice recognition, and age inference based on online behaviors.