Australia is preparing to block anyone under 16 from creating accounts on social media platforms starting in 2025. The problem? Nobody knows if gaming services like Twitch, Steam, and Roblox count as social media.
The Australian government has contacted these platforms directly to ask one simple question: Are you social media or not? The answer will determine whether millions of young gamers lose access to their accounts.
Twitch seems doomed. The streaming platform has chat rooms, subscriptions, and community features that look a lot like traditional social media. Australian teens would need to prove they’re 16 or older to keep watching their favorite streamers while logged in.
Steam’s situation is more complicated. Valve’s platform sells games, but it also has forums, chat, user profiles, and community workshops. The government might decide these social features outweigh its primary purpose as a game store.
Roblox faces the biggest challenge. The platform hosts user-created games but also includes chat, friend lists, and virtual currency. With its massive young user base, Roblox could lose millions of Australian players overnight.
The draft rules include one crucial exemption. Platforms whose “sole or primary purpose” is letting users play online games together won’t face the ban. This could save services like Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, but the exact definition remains fuzzy.
Even GitHub got a letter from the government. The code-sharing platform has social features like profiles and discussions, showing how broad Australia’s net might be. LEGO Play also received inquiries about its community features.
If these platforms get labeled as social media, they’ll need to implement age verification systems. This means Australian kids might have to hand over ID documents or use facial recognition just to play games or watch streams.
The UK recently introduced similar laws. British users now verify their age on countless websites using third-party services. Many worry about handing personal data to unknown companies just to access basic online services.
Australia has always taken a hard line on digital content. The country has banned games for violence, regulated loot boxes, and now wants to reshape how young people use the internet entirely.
Platforms would need to block account creation for under-16s and implement “age assurance” technology. They could still let kids browse without logging in, but no accounts means no chatting, no friends lists, and no saved progress in many cases.
The final rules drop in 2025, giving platforms time to prepare. Some might create special Australian versions with stripped-down features. Others might fight the classification or pull out of the market entirely.
Console makers like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are watching closely. Their online networks have voice chat and messaging, but they primarily exist for multiplayer gaming. The exemption might save them, but nothing is certain yet.
The eSafety Commissioner will oversee enforcement. Platforms that fail to block underage users could face hefty fines under Australia’s Online Safety Act.
