YouTube Added to Australia's Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

Australia's social media ban for children under 16 will now include YouTube, following an initial exclusion. The ban is set to come into force by the end of 2025, and YouTube Kids will be exempt. The decision comes after eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant called for the ban, citing YouTube as the most-used social media platform among young Australians and biggest source of harm.

Australia's government has announced that YouTube will be included in its social media ban for children under 16, reversing an earlier exemption for the video-sharing platform. The ban, set to come into effect by the end of 2025, will exclude YouTube Kids. This decision follows a call from the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, who cited YouTube as the most-used social media platform among young Australians and the biggest source of harm [1].

The ban was initially proposed to address concerns about the negative impact of social media on children's mental health and well-being. The government has stated that social media firms will face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32.2 million) if they break the law [1]. Other social media platforms, such as Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, have also been fighting to avoid inclusion in the ban [2].

YouTube has been actively contesting its classification as a social media platform, arguing that it is primarily a video-sharing service. The company has taken out advertisements and sent letters to the government, suggesting a high court challenge if it is included in the ban [2]. Despite these efforts, the Australian government has maintained its stance, with Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek stating that it would not be "bullied out of taking action by any social media giant" [2].

The ban aims to protect Australian children from potential harms associated with social media use. Online gaming, messaging apps, and health and education sites will be excluded from the minimum age rules, as they pose fewer social media harms to teens under 16 or are regulated under different laws [1].

References:
[1] https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/australia-adds-youtube-to-social-media-ban-for-children-4158734
[2] https://www.techspot.com/news/108854-meta-youtube-tiktok-fight-back-australia-social-media.html