Could Australia’s under-16 social media ban affect esports?

As of December 10th, 2025, the Australian government’s social media ban for under-16s has taken effect, restricting how children engage with some of the most popular online platforms.

With various social media apps and streaming sites included in the list of affected platforms, Esports Insider looks at how this could impact the wider esports and gaming scene.

The Online Safety Amendment, passed by the Australian Government, prevents under-16-year-olds in Australia from setting up new accounts while forcing online platforms to deactivate or suspend existing ones.

The social media and streaming apps listed must convince the country’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, that the companies have taken ‘reasonable steps’ in preventing children from holding an account. If not, there are risks of facing a fine of up to AUD $49.5m (~$32.9m/£24.7) according to the FAQ’s.

However, the eSafety Commissioner has stated that under-16s will be able to see ‘publicly available social media content’ that does not require an account to access. For actions or content that necessitate an account, users will need to prove their age, although methods may vary depending on the platform.

The new law passed by the Australian Government will affect a total of 10 platforms from December 10th onwards.

The changes are not likely to impact the esports ecosystem directly. However, many of these platforms are used to promote esports and grow communities within the gaming sector.

These are the social media platforms that have been listed:

This will impact how young esports fans in the country engage with some of their favourite ecosystems, especially in discussion-centric apps such as Reddit and X. Those under 16 in Australia will be primarily unable to comment on posts and engage with content on social media platforms. However, some places, like Reddit, still allow users to see content without the need for an account.

What is interesting to note is that while social media apps have been restricted, some private chat platforms such as WhatsApp, Messenger, and Discord have been excluded from the list.

Eager fans can still join private chat rooms dedicated to esports through apps like Discord, which often serve as a hub for community discussions and hold reward incentives.

Furthermore, the PC gaming store Steam will not be affected, meaning under-16s can still browse for esports titles and talk to friends with Steam Chat.

The three main streaming platforms Kick, Twitch and YouTube have also been named in the list by the eSafety Commissioner.

Fans often engage during livestreams of esports matches throughout tournaments, commenting on the events as they unfold. However, this will be unavailable to those under the age of 16, as an account is required to comment.

However, given that all three of these platforms allow for open viewing as a guest, the restrictions imposed will not prevent an under-16-year-old from watching events. However, the barriers imposed will prevent children from engaging with esports content on those platforms or receiving incentives such as Twitch Drops.