The Australian government has announced the inclusion of YouTube in the world-first social media ban for teenagers, expanding the scope of landmark social media law to protect the children under 16s from harmful and abusive content.
The recent announcement has reversed the decision to exclude YouTube from the ban, thereby bringing it in line along with other social media platforms such as Facebook, X, TikTok, and Snapchat.
However, the Alphabet-owned-video-sharing platform has objected in an issued statement that it should not be blocked for children as the platform “offers benefits and value to younger Australians. It is not a social media platform.”
The decision to abandon the exemption came over the heels of a survey by the country’s internet regulator. According to the findings, 37 percent of minors reported content on the site.
Moreover, Google also reportedly threatened legal action against the government if YouTube were included in the ban, protesting it would restrict political freedom.
Communication Minister Anika Wells said: “We want kids to know who they are before platforms assume who they are. There is a place for social media, but there is not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children.”
“We cannot control the ocean but we can police the sharks and that is why we will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is the genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids,” she added.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the media that “Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs. We know that this is not the only solution, but it will make a difference.”
A YouTube spokesperson issued a statement, negating YouTube as a social media platform.
The statement reads: “We share the government’s goal of addressing and reducing online harms. But our position is clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens.”
“The government’s announcement today reverses a clear, public commitment to exclude YouTube from the ban. We will consider next steps and will continue to engage with the government,” the statement by YouTube further added.
In November 2024, the Australian government rolled out a bill to ban social media for children under 16. The law is due to come into effect on December 10, 2025.
Under the stringent ban, tech giants can face the penalties up to A$50m if they fail to impose the age restrictions, leading to the deactivation of existing accounts and restriction of new accounts.
Other countries including the UK and Norway have followed suit by introducing similar bans for teenagers.
