Popular online games now ruled out in government's social media ban

The Albanese government is set to introduce legislation to ban social media for children under the age of 16.

Media reports suggest the ban could extend as far as the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live and online games such as Fortnite.

A spokesperson for Communications Minister Michelle Rowland told ACM the legislation would provide a "new definition" of social media that is "robust" and include services "commonly understood" to be social media.

But the spokesperson added there may be other services that are "captured".

ACM understands the legislation will include scoping exemptions for services like messaging and gaming platforms and games, as well as services that are proven to be "educational and health-related for children".

At a press conference on November 8, Ms Rowland confirmed video platform YouTube is "likely to fall within" the ban.

"YouTube Kids is a different product, but of course, it would need to be balanced against a set of criteria," she said.

Shadow communications minister David Coleman said he was concerned big social media companies like Meta may evade the ban completely by simply developing new products.

Ms Rowland will introduce legislation to implement the ban when parliament sits again in late November.

According to the gaming statistics site Active Player, Australian gamers have been the fourth-largest group of Fortnite players over the past five years.