After the previous exemption by the government for the platform, YouTube will be included in Australia’s world-first social media ban for children under 16 years of age.
The video sharing site was excluded from the ban – which would limit Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Snapchat and start in December.
Under the ban, teenagers will still be able to watch YouTube videos, but will not be allowed to keep an account, which is necessary to upload the material or interact on the platform.
YouTube – in the ownership of Google – argued that it should not be blocked to children because the platform “gives benefits and values to young Australians”: “It’s not social media,” it is said in the statement on Wednesday.
Australia’s laws are being seen with great interest by global leaders, Norway announced a uniform ban and the UK said it was considering the following suit.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanis told the media on Wednesday, “Social media is doing social loss to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their back.”
“We know that this is not the only solution,” he said about the ban, “but it will make a difference.”
Australia’s Esafity Commissioner Julie Inman Grant recommended to be added to the ban last month as it was “most often cited”, where children between the ages of 10 to 15 saw “harmful materials”.
Following the Vandesde’s announcement, a YouTube spokesman said it “would consider the next stages” and “continue to attach” with the government.
Last week, several Australian media outlets reported that Google was threatening to sue the government. If YouTube was included in the ban, arguing that it would ban political freedom.
Federal Communications Minister Anika Wales said that there is a place for social media, “There is no place for the hunter algorithms that target children”.
He tried to protect the children from the loss of the Internet, such as “trying to teach their children to swim in the open sea with RIP and sharks than the local council pool”.
“We can’t control the ocean, but we can police to the shark and that is why we will not be afraid of legal dangers when this is a real battle for the good of the Australian children,” he said.
Wells stated that exclusion for the ban would include “online gaming, messaging, education and health apps”, as they “reduce less social media horms by 16S”, Wales said.
Under the ban, tech companies can be fined up to $ 50m ($ 50m ($ 32.5m; £ 25.7m)) if they do not follow age sanctions. They will need to neutralize existing accounts and restrict any new accounts, as well as prevent any work and correct errors.
More information about how the new ban will be made due to the presented to the Federal Parliament on Wednesday.
