From December 10, children under 16 years of age will be barred from accessing or holding accounts on several social media platforms.
Popular platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat are part of the ban, but how will video game platforms used by children be impacted? We take a look at the ins and outs.
Children and parents are wondering how video games will be impacted by the upcoming social media ban. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Will the social media ban affect video games?
Yes, some video game platforms will be impacted by the upcoming social media ban.
Whilst specific games themselves will not be impacted, platforms that children can play video games on, or can watch streamers play popular video games on will be part of the ban.
The key criteria for platforms to fall foul of the new legislation include having “the sole purpose, or a significant purpose, of the service is to enable online social interaction between two or more end-users,” according to the website of the eSafety Commissioner.
“Platforms that have the sole or primary purpose of enabling messaging or online gaming are among a number of types of services that have been excluded under the legislative rules,” it added.
However, some platforms are included and some platforms are excluded.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday 1 December 2025. (Alex Ellinghausen)
What platforms are affected by the social media ban?
The main video game platform that falls under the ban is Twitch.
The site is an online streaming platform where users can broadcast live streams or view pre-recorded videos, and it is popular with streamers who show themselves playing video games.
Discord, a similar platform, has not been included in the ban as it stands.
Steam and Steam Deck, a platform where users can purchase and play video games on, has also not been included in the ban.
There has been no news about banning specific consoles or video games, despite both offering the ability to communicate with other users via text or audio chat.
For example, Playstation and Xbox consoles offer the ability for users to communicate with one another, even if the game they are playing doesn’t have the infrastructure to do so.
Is Roblox included in the social media ban?
Roblox is another popular video game platform, particularly for children.
There is no minimum age for the platform, which is a game-creation platform where users can create their own games or play games designed by other users.
A child is seen playing a game on the Roblox platform. (Getty)
The platform, which also gives users the ability to communicate and chat with others, is not included in the social media ban.
However, the company has confirmed it will roll out age verification systems in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands from this month, with a worldwide rollout to follow in the new year.
