Australia’s new law, which took effect at midnight on Wednesday, 10 Dec 2025, bars users under 16 from accessing major social‑media platforms such as Reddit, Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and X. The legislation requires platforms to implement age‑verification measures—facial‑age estimation, ID uploads, or linked bank details—to prevent underage access, and imposes fines of up to AUD 49.5 million for non‑compliance.
The ban applies to the largest global platforms, but a number of services are exempt, including Discord, Roblox, GitHub, Google Classroom, LEGO Play, Messenger, Pinterest, Steam, WhatsApp, and YouTube Kids. The law is the first of its kind worldwide and is driven by concerns over children’s exposure to violent, sexual, and manipulative content, cyberbullying, and harmful body‑image depictions.
Reddit has confirmed it will comply with the new requirements but has publicly described the law as “legally erroneous” and “arbitrary.” While the company has not disclosed specific Australian user numbers, it is a top‑five, high‑growth market for the platform, and the ban is expected to limit the acquisition of new users under 16. Reddit has not yet revealed the cost of implementing the required age‑verification technology, but the potential AUD 49.5 million fine underscores the financial risk of non‑compliance.
The regulation reflects a broader global trend toward stricter online‑safety rules for minors. Similar measures are being considered in the United Kingdom, Canada, and other jurisdictions, and the Australian law is likely to influence future policy debates. The ban also raises questions about how younger users will migrate to other platforms or unregulated spaces, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape for social media in Australia.
For Reddit, the immediate impact is a constraint on user‑growth in a key market, which could translate into a modest reduction in advertising revenue from Australian users. The company’s broader global revenue stream—projected at $1.8 billion in 2025—may absorb the loss, but the ban highlights the importance of regulatory compliance and the need for robust age‑verification systems to protect both users and the platform’s financial interests.
The law’s enforcement marks a significant shift in the regulatory environment for social media, underscoring the growing emphasis on child protection and the potential for increased compliance costs and operational challenges for platforms worldwide.
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