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Reddit is taking steps to comply with Australia’s new social media ban — and is even expanding it globally. Social media and community chat forum He said in a statement on Tuesday It will verify that new members and existing account holders in Australia are at least 16 years old, according to The new law of the country Which prevents people under the age of 16 from using certain apps, such as Reddit, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Snapchat, YouTube, Kick, Twitch, and others.
But Reddit doesn’t stop there. The company statement said that account holders under the age of 18 everywhere will get different versions of the app that will block access to NSFW and adult content. These modified versions of Reddit will have stricter chat settings and will not contain ad customization or sensitive ads.
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A Reddit representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Describes Australian law as ‘arbitrary’
The San Francisco-based company said the legislation limits freedom of expression and privacy and is “arbitrary, legally wrong and goes far beyond the original intent of the Australian Parliament, especially when other obvious platforms are excluded.”
“We believe strongly in the open internet and continued access to knowledge, information, resources, and community building for everyone, including young people,” Reddit’s statement said. “That’s why Reddit has always been, and continues to be, available for anyone to read even if they don’t have an account.”
Age verification rules – like UK online safety law – It has become the norm rather than the exception for governments and companies around the world. The Wild West of the Internet is increasingly being tamed to prevent children from seeing certain things online. It’s a battleground where privacy, access to information, and online safety are huge factors.
Age prediction and verification
The company will use an age prediction model to determine whether new and existing account holders in Australia are at least 16 years old, the Reddit statement said. The company said that if the model predicts one of its members is under 16, they will ask them to prove they are an adult. As shown herepeople must verify their date of birth by presenting a government-issued ID or taking a selfie. The Company will suspend the accounts of persons it determines are under 16 years of age.
Reddit said it will only securely store age information and not photos or documents used in the verification process. The company said the information will not be visible to advertisers or anyone else. The information will only be used to “enhance the relevance of content and advertising experiences” and will not be sold to data brokers.
Aside from complying with the new Australian law, Reddit said it is also working to increase the platform’s safety for under-18s. If you are under this age, the site will disable ad personalization, and you will not see ads for alcohol, gambling, or other sensitive topics. Those under the age of 18 will also not be permitted to moderate communities designated for NSFW or adult content.