Australia said on Wednesday it will include YouTube in its world-first ban on social media for teenagers, reversing an earlier decision to exempt the video-sharing platform.
Youtube will be classified as an "age-restricted social media platform" from December if they break the law, which passed through parliament in November.
While other countries have mulled similar actions, Australia is the first to make the leap, receiving both praise and criticism.
The European Union introduced similar legislation banning under 16s from online services without parental consent in 2015, but allowed countries to opt out of the age ban.
The UK has discussed a similar ban on social media for people under 16. The country's technology secretary was asked about the country following Australia's lead and said "everything is on the table with me" in an interview with the BBC.
What platforms are restricted?
- Platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, are likely to have age limits placed on users.
- Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, and Google Classroom will not be part of the ban as they are considered "out-of-scope".
- Online gaming, messaging apps, and health and education sites will also be excluded from minimum age rules as they pose fewer risks to teens under 16
- Platforms will face penalties of up to $32.2 million if they fail to block sign-ups and active accounts belonging to users under 16 from 10 December.
Why was the ban introduced?
Although Youtube was originally exempt, Australia's internet watchdog made a renewed push to include it, warning that kids were using YouTube more than any other social media platform.
After its research found that 37% of children aged 10 to 15 reported seeing harmful content on the platform, the most of any social media site, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant urged the government to overturn the proposed exemption.
The ban was not only introduced so young people stay off their phones; rather, Australia's Communications Minister Anika Wells said it had to do with "predatory algorithms" that keep children locked into their phones.
"There's a place for social media, but there's not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children," Wells said, adding, "There is no one perfect solution when it comes to keeping young Australians safer online — but the social media minimum age will make a significantly positive difference to their wellbeing."
The negative impacts of social media can also be seen at primary schools, according to Australian Primary Principals Association president Angela Falkenberg, who said it included "online harassment, bullying, inappropriate image sharing, and excessive screen time, all of which can harm their sleep, learning, and relationships".
eSafety Commissioner Grant added that social media companies deployed "persuasive design features" like recommendation-based algorithms and notifications to keep users online and "YouTube has mastered those, opaque algorithms driving users down rabbit holes they're powerless to fight against".
How will the ban work?
The restrictions placed on YouTube will mean that those under 16 will not be allowed to have YouTube accounts or subscribe to YouTube channels.
However, unlike many of the other platforms included in the ban, YouTube doesn't require users to have an account or be logged in to access content. This means minors can still watch videos in a logged-out state or under parental supervision.
How did social media giants respond?
TikTok's owner ByteDance said there was a lack of clarity in the legislation, adding: "Where novel policy is put forward, it's important that legislation is drafted in a thorough and considered way, to ensure it is able to achieve its stated intention."
Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, urged against putting the onus on social media companies to enforce the proposed age limit, saying the technology for a perfect solution "isn't quite there yet".
Elon Musk, owner of X, suggested the bill was a "backdoor way to control access to the Internet".
Last week, YouTube told Reuters it had written to the government urging it "to uphold the integrity of the legislative process". Australian media said YouTube threatened a court challenge, but YouTube did not confirm that.
The Australian Human Rights Commission also said it had "serious reservations" about the ban, saying that while it was designed to protect children from harm, it would likely have negative human rights impacts on young people.
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