Roblox, the immensely popular gaming platform recently scrutinized for allegedly enabling sexual predators to target children, has been given a temporary reprieve. This decision also extends to messaging services like Messenger, WhatsApp, and Discord, as well as platforms like GitHub, YouTube Kids, and several others.

Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and YouTube were previously categorized as “age-restricted social media platforms” prior to the latest update revealed last night.

The updated list was released with a cautionary note that all online platforms must continuously evaluate themselves to determine if they fit the criteria, particularly focusing on whether their primary or significant function is facilitating online social interaction.

Beginning December 10, these platforms will face potential fines reaching $49.5 million under pioneering global restrictions if they do not take “reasonable steps” to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services.

According to eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, postponing children’s exposure to social media allows them to develop and mature without the influence of harmful and deceptive design elements, such as complex algorithms and the lure of endless scrolling.

“But I’ve also said consistently that age restricting social media is one important tool in our holistic approach to online safety,” she said.

“Ultimately, all online platforms should be building less harmful, age-appropriate experiences through safety by design. 

“Where they are not, we will apply the Online Safety Act’s mandatory codes and standards and supplement with robust prevention and education resources for Australians.”

The full list of platforms eSafety has informed don’t meet the social media definition is Discord, GitHub, LEGO Play, Roblox, Steam and Steam Chat, Google Classroom, Messenger, WhatsApp and YouTube Kids.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed a lawsuit in August alleging Roblox had failed to implement effective safety measures to protect child users from adult predators, claiming they “thrive, unite, hunt and victimise kids” on the platform.

Critics of the law have pointed to concerns children will be able to quickly get around the ban by spoofing their location with a virtual private network (VPN) or tricking whatever age-gating systems the platforms implement.

Wells on Thursday said it was about showing parents “we have your back”, describing the ban as a treatment plan rather than a cure.

“Kids are going to be kids, they’re going to try and get around this, it won’t be perfect, but it is going to make a meaningful difference and that’s really important,” she told Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Nova radio. 

“Like you say, it’s the first step. It will make a huge cultural change in this country. 

“And I think someone very wise who I saw on the floor of the UN said, this will not just change a law, it will change a generation.”

Cardiff Metropolitan University senior lecturer in computing and ​information said Australia could learn from the UK’s recent implementation of compulsory age verification for some website that there “will be ways to circumnavigate it”.

“I think the thing to know is that people will get around it, and you’ve got to have robust controls otherwise, you know, it’s not as effective as it could be,” he told 9news.com.au. 

“And they’re right, you know, they’re right to do this because of the harm that social media lands on young people.”