Australia Bans YouTube for Teens
Australia has included YouTube in its pioneering social media ban for teenagers under 16, overturning an earlier exemption for the Alphabet-owned platform, a decision announced on Wednesday that may lead to a legal challenge. The ban, effective from December, aims to protect young Australians from harmful online content.
The reversal follows a recommendation from eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, who cited a survey showing 37% of minors encountered harmful content on YouTube, the highest among social media platforms. “I’m calling time on it,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, emphasizing the negative impact of online platforms on children and the social responsibility of tech companies. “I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.”
YouTube, used by nearly three-quarters of Australians aged 13 to 15, argued it is a video-sharing platform, not social media, due to its focus on hosting content often viewed on TV screens. “Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content,” a YouTube spokesperson said. The company, which lobbied against inclusion through events like a Google showcase at Parliament House, urged the government to uphold the legislative process.
The decision aligns YouTube with platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X, which face fines up to A$49.5 million for failing to take “reasonable steps” to block under-16 accounts. YouTube Kids, a curated app, remains exempt. The ban allows teachers and parents to show YouTube videos to minors, with Angela Falkenberg, president of the Australian Primary Principals Association, noting that teachers will ensure content appropriateness.
Other platforms, including Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat, criticized YouTube’s initial exemption as a “sweetheart deal,” arguing its interactive features and algorithmic recommendations mirror their services. Adam Marre, chief information security officer at Arctic Wolf, supported the inclusion, stating, “The Australian government’s move to regulate YouTube is an important step in pushing back against the unchecked power of big tech and protecting kids.”
The government is awaiting a report on age-verification technology trials, expected this month, to guide enforcement. YouTube’s inclusion follows its 2021 threat to withdraw Google services over a media bargaining law, hinting at potential legal action, though unconfirmed.
