The video platform YouTube will be added to the list of social networks banned for children under 16 in Australia. This was announced by the country’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. The law will come into effect on December 1 this year.
The government’s decision, according to the Prime Minister, is due to the negative impact online platforms have on Australian children. A survey showed that 37% of minors reported harmful content on the site, which is the worst result among social media platforms. Thus, Australia has revoked the exemption previously granted to YouTube. The proposal was made by the new Minister for Communications, Anika Wells, and was supported by the parents of Australian teenagers.
YouTube was included in the list of exemptions in November last year, when the Australian Parliament passed a law banning children under 16 from using platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X.
For its part, YouTube noted that it should not be classified as a social network, as its primary function is video hosting.
“Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video-sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content that is increasingly watched on television screens. It is not a social network,” a company spokesperson said.
Anthony Albanese reminded social media platforms of their social responsibility. The new regulations will come into effect in December, and platforms that fail to take necessary measures to prevent access by minors may face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately 33 million US dollars).
It is also noted that children will have access to YouTube, but they will not be allowed to have personal accounts on the platform.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Australia plans to present an initiative at the United Nations Forum in New York this September, calling for international support for restricting children’s access to social media.
