Instagram, TikTok… But also Twitch. The streaming giant will be forced to remove all its Australian users under the age of 16 when the country enacts a law banning teenagers from accessing social networks next month, the country’s Internet governing body reported on Friday.
Australia will from December 10 force social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, to delete the accounts of users under the age of 16. If violations occur, the platform will be subject to fines of up to nearly 28 million euros (49.5 million Australian dollars).
The Australian government’s eSafety Commissioner said US company Twitch (which was originally a platform for video game streamers but now hosts live streams of various genres) met the criteria to be banned.
However, the sites Pinterest, LegoPlay and WhatsApp escaped the ban. However, other platforms are still under consideration.
Symbolic rules?
Twitch says nearly 70% of its users are between 18 and 34 years old, but doesn’t reveal how many of its users are younger. This platform does not allow users under the age of 13 years.
Tech companies have been critical of the new law, describing it as “vague,” “problematic” and “rushed.”
Australia’s policy, which is one of the strictest in the world, is being scrutinized by other countries seeking to regulate access to these platforms.
However, some experts believe that this rule is only symbolic, due to the difficulty of implementing concrete age verification of Internet users.
