<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australia's"><span>Australia's</span></a><span> world-first </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-australia-full-list-of-sites-banned-everything-to-know-explained/b19e9d0f-9a6d-49bd-b5c4-c6a33f98fd0e" rel="" target="_blank" title="social media ban"><span>social media ban</span></a><span> will be implemented in a matter of days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>From December 10, children under 16 years of age will be barred from accessing or holding accounts on several social media platforms.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-australia-penalties-children-platforms-explainer/63ac14f5-2bd8-4747-9622-e84f539b64c0" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Will children under 16 get in trouble for accessing social media?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Will the social media ban affect video games?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Yes, some video game platforms will be impacted by the upcoming social media ban.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-australia-are-video-games-impacted-explainer/85617c6b-cc2a-4f4d-b0e8-4be6e300a289" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, some platforms are included and some platforms are excluded.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/tiktok-instagram-alternatives-booming-as-australian-kids-switch-before-social-media-ban/a2950b1d-898e-467f-a9e4-744f1807a3ec" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>The little-known apps kids are switching to ahead of social media ban</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What platforms are affected by the social media ban?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The main video game platform that falls under the ban is Twitch.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Discord, a similar platform, has not been included in the ban as it stands.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Steam and Steam Deck, a platform where users can purchase and play video games on, has also not been included in the ban.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Is Roblox included in the social media ban?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Roblox is another popular video game platform, particularly for children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-noah-jones-high-court-challenge/5c7ef214-ec74-4fd6-97ce-cb0fc88fa333" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Noah learnt about the social media ban on social media. Now, he's fighting it in court</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The platform, which also gives users the ability to communicate and chat with others, is not included in the social media ban.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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