Australia

YouTube: It will be locking me out of my YouTube account so I’ll lose all my saved playlists, can’t block harmful channels or recommendations (though the algorithms still function to serve them), could not choose to go premium to stop the scam/porn/alcohol and gambling ads (YouTube prohibits adblockers and not everyone knows about Brave browser or constantly updating the adblockers in an arms race) and I can’t watch certain favourite songs or my mates gaming channel.

I am still able to find plenty of uncensored material that’s not suitable for children while signed out though. So that’s something /s

Facebook: There are people I’d like to casually keep in touch with that are more likely to use the platform than text or email. Guess I kiss acquaintances goodbye? Don’t get to check out events if one might be in a pub or have a risqué flyer? There are also disability support groups on there.

Twitch: Can’t watch my friend’s content or use the platform. This better not affect my Minecraft.

Reddit: This will prevent the choice of going back and talking to our Redditor buds who didn’t migrate over to Lemmy. (The original Melbourne Daily Discussion Thread began on Reddit and before the exodus everyone had been internet friends for a long time.) There are disability support groups on there I mainly lurked but now will not be able to ask questions. Art subs too.

Also if I want to go and read only I may be prevented without an account. I also didn’t get it together in time to back up my comments in order to delete my account, so I may not get to.

TikTok: Hate the platform and avoid it as much as possible but increasingly everything is being put on it. Will not be able to watch friend’s channel.

Everything else: I don’t use it but resent being treated like a child and told that I can’t unless I submit to an unreasonable invasion of privacy. Cannot even look at friends stuff without an account to stay in the loop.

More broadly the UK version of this has shut down a number of small forums. So they’re gone. And there is still the potential for Australia or other countries to expand the targeted sites in future and do the same. Deciding on what they want to do and who can afford to fight or comply.

I hope this is an embarrassing fail. But if this precedent is set and the scope is allowed to creep there is the possibility that there won’t be independent alternatives to the large tech companies and they will be empowered to behave worse.

Also did I mention the control of information flow and potential for censorship? Even if only social media is restricted?

But it isn’t. It’s search engine sign-ins too.

Pretty much everything could be restricted, from accessing information about politics to LGBTI+ or sexual health/reproductive care. Mental health and suicide prevention. Having to go to a restaurants Facebook page to check if it’s accessible or has allergens because they might not have an independent website.