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Australia is taking further steps to tighten online safety for minors as its government looks to expand a world-first social media ban for users under the age of 16. Popular platforms such as WhatsApp, Reddit, Twitch, and Roblox may soon be swept into the new regulation, alongside earlier targets like Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

The Australian eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has formally written to 16 more digital platforms, requesting them to assess whether their services fall under the new legal framework.

Among the platforms now under scrutiny are Pinterest, Lego Play, Kick (a rising streaming platform), and Steam, a major digital distribution service for video games.

Technology companies that believe they should be exempt from the under-16 ban must now make a compelling case to the regulator, according to reports by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Speaking to ABC, Inman Grant explained the commission’s approach:

“We need to hear them all out,” she said. “While some cases were pretty clear, we’re going to give them the due diligence process.”

The commissioner emphasized that the initial focus will be on platforms with the highest number of users, where the risks of online harm to minors are most significant.

This move is part of Australia’s broader push to protect children from online exploitation, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content. If implemented in full, the regulation could mark one of the strictest youth-oriented internet safety regimes globally.

Observers say Australia’s model may influence other countries grappling with similar concerns, including Nigeria, where digital safety for children remains a growing topic of public interest.