Discussion forum Reddit remains notably silent about its compliance plans for Australia’s under-16 social media ban despite the December 10 deadline approaching rapidly. The platform’s lack of public communication joins X, TikTok, and Kick in creating uncertainty about whether all major sites will be ready for implementation or if some will face enforcement action for inadequate preparation.
YouTube has confirmed compliance despite parent company Google’s extensive concerns about the legislation. Rachel Lord from Google’s policy division warned that the ban eliminates safety features including parental supervision tools, content restrictions, and wellbeing reminders that promote healthy usage patterns. Google’s strategy combines required compliance with vocal public opposition to the law’s fundamental approach.
Communications Minister Anika Wells has dismissed industry concerns with direct criticism, calling YouTube’s warnings “outright weird” during her National Press Club address. Wells argued that platforms highlighting their own safety problems should focus on solving those issues rather than opposing protective legislation. She emphasized that tech companies have wielded enormous power through algorithms deliberately designed to maximize teenage engagement for profit.
ByteDance’s Lemon8 app demonstrates a contrasting approach, announcing voluntary over-16 restrictions from December 10 despite not being explicitly named in legislation. The Instagram-style platform had experienced increased interest specifically because it avoided the initial ban, but eSafety Commissioner monitoring prompted proactive compliance rather than maintaining silence about implementation plans.
The government has acknowledged implementation challenges while maintaining commitment to enforcement. Wells conceded the ban won’t be perfect from day one, potentially taking days or weeks to fully materialize. The eSafety Commissioner will collect compliance data beginning December 11 with monthly updates, while platforms face penalties up to 50 million dollars. Reddit’s silence alongside other major platforms raises questions about varied corporate strategies, with some companies apparently calculating that quiet preparation serves them better than public communication as Australia’s historic deadline approaches despite the coordination challenges evident in inconsistent industry responses to sweeping regulatory change.
