In the latest on the global crackdown on social media exposure among children, Australia’s online safety regulator has extended its enforcement action to Twitch, Amazon’s (AMZN) live‑streaming platform.
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On Friday, the eSafety Commissioner announced that Twitch, which is mainly used for gaming and esports, is now “required to take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from having accounts.” However, Pinterest (PINS), which focuses on information discovery through digital pinboards that give customers shopping inspiration, was exempted from the age restriction obligation.
Amazon acquired Twitch in August 2014 for $970 million.
Why Was Pinterest Exempted?
The internet regulator explained that Twitch “has the sole or significant purpose of online social interaction with features designed to encourage user interaction, including through livestreaming content.” As a result, the regulator believes that the platform is mandated to follow Australia’s Social Media Minimum Age policy.
Twitch joins several online platforms that were previously slammed with the same ban and required to enforce the age-restriction rules starting from December 10. The list includes Meta’s (META) Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, Alphabet’s (GOOGL) YouTube, as well as Reddit (RDDT), X, TikTok, and Snapchat (SNAP).
Explaining Pinterest’s exemption, eSafety noted that “while Pinterest enables some online social interaction, it is not the significant purpose.” It added: “Pinterest is more commonly used by individuals collating images for inspiration and idea curation.”
Regulators Race to Protect Children Online
Australia is not alone in efforts to protect children and teenagers from exposure to harmful content on social media platforms. Earlier this month, Denmark also banned the use of social media by teenagers under the age of 15.
The ban came several weeks after the EU’s executive branch launched an investigation into what Apple (AAPL), Alphabet, and Snapchat are doing to protect children from online harm. Similarly, the UK earlier in the year introduced new rules that require social media platforms to prevent children’s exposure to harmful content such as suicide, self-harm, and pornographic content.
What Is the Best Social Media Stock to Buy?
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