SYDNEY, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Australia's internet watchdog

on Friday said it would include Amazon.com ( AMZN )-owned live

streaming service Twitch in its upcoming teen social media ban,

but will not add image-sharing platform Pinterest ( PINS ) to

the list.

From December 10, Australia will become the world's first

country to bar people aged 16 years and under from using social

media, with penalties up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for

companies that fail to take "reasonable steps" to comply.

* The eSafety Commissioner said Twitch qualifies as a social

media

service because it is primarily used for livestreaming and

posting interactive content that allows users - including

children - to communicate with others.

* Twitch plans to deactivate all user accounts for people

aged 16

and under from January 9, and will bar new under-age users from

creating accounts once the ban comes into force next month.

* Pinterest ( PINS ), however, will not be added to the list. The

eSafety

Commissioner said that while it allows some online social

interaction, that is not its main purpose, noting that it is

used for collecting images and curating ideas.

* Earlier this month, the commissioner expanded the ban to

add

Reddit ( RDDT ) and video live streaming platform Kick. Major

firms already covered include Meta Platforms' ( META ) Facebook

and Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and

Alphabet-owned YouTube.

* No further assessments will be conducted before the rules

take

effect on December 10, the commissioner said.

($1 = 1.5494 Australian dollars)