Australia To Include Youtube In Under-16 Social Media Ban
The federal government has accepted a recommendation from its online safety regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, to include YouTube in the social media ban, said Albanese and Anika Wells, the minister for communications, at a press conference in Canberra on Wednesday.
YouTube was initially granted an exemption from the ban, which will come into effect from Dec. 10, due to its education and health content. Nonetheless, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant had told the government in a formal advice in June that the platform exposes children to harmful content.
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Albanese said that the government is prepared to "take action" against social media platforms that cause social harm.
"We know this is not the only solution, and there's more to do. But it will make a difference," he said.
Wells said that the decision to include YouTube in the ban was about "prioritising parents ahead of platforms."
The announcement comes after YouTube, and parent company Google, earlier in July threatened legal action on constitutional grounds against any move by the government to remove the platform's exemption.
Wells said that the government would not be intimidated by technology companies.
"We can't control the ocean, but we can police the sharks, and that is why we will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the well-being of Australian kids," she said.
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