Australia Bans YouTube Use for Children Under 16

The Australian government has added YouTube to the list of social media platforms that are banned for users under the age of 16. Previously, YouTube was exempted due to its popularity. However, a recent survey revealed that 37% of teenagers had been exposed to harmful content on YouTube—a higher rate than on any other platform.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated, “Our children are being harmed by social media. We stand with the parents.”

The ban will go into effect starting December. Under the new rules, children under 16 will not be allowed to open a YouTube account, although parents or teachers will still be able to show them videos if necessary.

YouTube has claimed that it is a video-sharing platform, not a traditional social media network. However, many experts argue that YouTube also curates and promotes content based on user engagement and algorithms, which are core features of social media.

The new decision may lead to legal conflict between the Australian government and Alphabet, the parent company of YouTube. In the past, Alphabet had threatened to withdraw Google services from Australia in response to similar legal challenges.

However, Australia's Communications Minister, Anika Wells, has made it clear that she will not be intimidated by legal threats when it comes to protecting children’s welfare.