'We'll watch them closely'

The apps hit by the ban and the plans to enforce it

- Josh Taylor

Tech platforms - large and small - are working on functionality that will remove under-16 account holders and prevent new ones from signing up. But how will it work?

Which social media platforms and apps are getting banned?

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, Kick, Threads.

The government has said this is a dynamic list, so other platforms could be added at a later stage if, for example, children move to one after the ban and it raises similar concerns as the above.

Which platforms are not on the banned list?

Roblox, Pinterest, YouTube Kids, Discord, WhatsApp, Lemon8, GitHub, Lego Play, Steam and Steam Chat, Google Classroom, Messenger, LinkedIn.

The government has left it open as to whether other platforms will be expected to comply. The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, told the Senate it would be up to platforms to assess themselves and determine whether or not they need to comply.

How will age verification work?

That is ultimately up to the platform to decide. The one requirement from the government is that requesting ID cannot be the only form of age check.