Reddit to block Australian users under 16 ahead of new age restriction laws
Despite disagreeing with its classification as age-restricted, Reddit has bowed to government pressure and will ban under-16s from holding accounts in Australia.
Reddit has announced it will begin blocking Australian users under the age of 16 from creating or accessing accounts, in order to comply with new federal age restrictions coming into force on Wednesday.
Under the new law, social media platforms assessed as “age-restricted” must take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from holding accounts.
In a statement, Reddit said that while it does not agree with the Australian Government’s classification of the platform, it will comply with the legislation by suspending accounts confirmed to belong to users under the age threshold.
The company said anyone in Australia found to be under 16 would be barred from accessing their existing account or creating a new one.
However, browsing Reddit without logging in will remain possible.
The eSafety Commissioner, which is responsible for overseeing the new requirements, said the restrictions aim to reduce the risks young people face on social platforms, including exposure to harmful content and design features that encourage excessive screen time.
As of November 21, the Commissioner considers Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Kick and Reddit to be age-restricted services, with the list expected to be updated before the law takes effect.
Platforms are captured if they meet a set of criteria outlined in legislative rules issued by the Minister for Communications in July 2025.
The changes form part of broader efforts to limit the pressures and potential harms faced by younger Australians when using social media.
A gaming-focused streaming service is also one of the latest to be added to the growing list of platforms that Australians under 16 will be barred from using.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant confirmed that Twitch is now included alongside Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and several other services deemed age-restricted under the upcoming rules.
“Twitch is a platform most commonly used for live streaming or posting content that enables users, including Australian children, to interact with others in relation to the content posted,” a statement posted to the eSafety website said.
Originally published as Reddit to block Australian users under 16 ahead of new age restriction laws
