Australia Expands Teen Social Media Ban to Include Twitch

Sat Nov 22 2025 16:14:33 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As part of a new initiative to protect children online, Australia has added Twitch to its social media ban for teens under 16, starting next month.

Twitch, a popular gaming livestreaming platform, will be included in Australia's social media ban for users under 16 starting December 10. This regulation requires teens to not only refrain from creating new accounts but also leads to the deactivation of existing accounts from January 9, 2026. The ban aims to mitigate risks and pressures associated with social media for children, encompassing several platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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, with existing ones to be closed starting December 10.

Australia's internet regulator overseeing the ban stated that Twitch - owned by Amazon - has been included as its primary purpose involves online social interaction where users can chat with each other about posted content.

A spokesperson from Twitch confirmed that Australians under 16 will be prohibited from opening a Twitch account from December 10, and from January 9, existing accounts held by users under 16 will be deactivated.

Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety Commissioner, emphasized that Twitch is frequently used for livestreaming, allowing users, including Australian children, to interact regarding the posted content.

No additional platforms are anticipated to be included in the ban before the start date next month. The government previously expressed that the ban targets reducing the pressures and risks children are subjected to on social media, particularly regarding harmful content.

Founded in 2007, Twitch boasts popularity as a livestreaming platform where individuals typically play video games while engaging with viewers.

Last year, Twitch announced plans to share a greater portion of its revenue with creators, allowing streamers to earn money from fan subscriptions to their channels, with revenue split equally after fees.

Twitch forbids anyone under 13 from using its platform. Users aged 13 to the legal age of adulthood in their country can join if they have parental or guardian consent.

Earlier this week, Meta, which operates Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, announced plans to start closing accounts belonging to teenagers under 16 from December 4, a week prior to the official ban.

While it remains unclear how companies will enforce this ban, options may include the use of government IDs, face or voice recognition, and age inferences from online behaviors or interactions to estimate a user's age.

Inman Grant also noted that Pinterest would not be included in the ban as its primary use is not social interaction but rather image curation.

The comprehensive ban aims to protect children from potential risks they face online and includes several other platforms such as YouTube, Reddit, and X.