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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
YouTube to be captured by social media ban
YouTube will be captured by Labor's world-leading social media ban for under 16s, the Albanese government has confirmed. The videostreaming giant was initially set to be exempt, with the Albanese government arguing it could be educational. But the online safety watchdog has since advised YouTube should be included, warning it causes the most harm to kids. 'Our government is making it clear – we stand on the side of families,' Anthony Albanese said in a joint statement with Communications Minister Anika Wells. 'Social media has a social responsibility and there is no doubt that Australian kids are being negatively impacted by online platforms so I'm calling time on it. 'Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.' Echoing the Prime Minister, Ms Wells said it would give 'kids a reprieve from the persuasive and pervasive pull of social media while giving parents peace of mind'. 'We want kids to know who they are before platforms assume who they are,' she said. 'There is no one perfect solution when it comes to keeping young Australians safer online – but the social media minimum age will make a significantly positive difference to their wellbeing. 'The rules are not a set and forget, they are a set and support.' Last month, the brains tasked with finding a way to enforce the ban said it is possible but that there is no 'silver bullet' and firms would need to use a range of measures. One option, according to the project's chief, is successive validation – a series of tests designed to firm up a user's age. With the advice saying enforcement is possible, Ms Wells noted in the joint statement that there are 'heavy penalties for companies who fail to take reasonable steps to prevent underage account holders onto their services'. Those penalties include a fine of up to $49.5m. 'There's a place for social media, but there's not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children,' Ms Wells said. The decision to include YouTube in the ban comes after eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant warned kids were using YouTube more than any other social media platform. 'It's almost ubiquitous that kids are on social media,' she said last month, speaking to the ABC. 'By far the most prevalent social media site they're on is YouTube. 'And when we asked where they were experiencing harm and the kinds of harms they were experiencing, the most prevalent place where young Australians experienced harm was on YouTube – almost 37 per cent. 'This ranges from misogynistic content to hateful material, to violent fighting videos, online challenges, disordered eating, suicidal ideation.' The decision to include YouTube in the ban comes after eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant warned kids were using YouTube more than any other social media platform. 'It's almost ubiquitous that kids are on social media,' she said last month, speaking to the ABC. 'By far the most prevalent social media site they're on is YouTube. 'And when we asked where they were experiencing harm and the kinds of harms they were experiencing, the most prevalent place where young Australians experienced harm was on YouTube – almost 37 per cent. 'This ranges from misogynistic content to hateful material, to violent fighting videos, online challenges, disordered eating, suicidal ideation.' The Coalition also called for YouTube's inclusion, with opposition communications spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh saying it is 'a logical thing to do'. The social media ban is set to come into force in December. While other countries have mulled similar actions, Australia is the first to make the leap, receiving both praise and criticism.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Aussie swim star Kaylee McKeown claims world championships gold
Australia's backstroke queen Kaylee McKeown has done it again, shrugging off injury to claim gold in the 100m backstroke at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore. The 24-year-old Queenslander stormed home to take the gold in 57.16 seconds, holding off American rival Regan Smith (57.35) to grab top spot on the podium. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. McKeown's time was a championship and Australian record and she reportedly achieved the feat despite battling a dislocated shoulder in recent weeks. A two-time Olympian, McKeown can boast five Olympic gold medals, one silver and three bronze from her glittering career in the pool so far. And she proved she has plenty left in the tank with her thrilling performance at the Singapore Sports Hub. 'McKeown laying down the challenge here, she's gone up on level terms here,' a commentator said in the final stages of the nailbiting race. 'Smith and McKeown, it's Smith in front but McKeown is now taking over the lead. 'McKeown goes in and takes the gold and takes the championship record!' SMH journalist Tom Decent reported prior to Tuesday night's final that the Aussie superstar had been dealing with a dislocated shoulder in the build-up to the championships. 'Some news regarding Kaylee McKeown ahead of her showdown tonight with USA's Regan Smith in the women's 100m backstroke final,' he tweeted. 'Can reveal McKeown dislocated her shoulder in recent weeks. Something she's been managing plus other niggles.' So her performance brought some huge praise from the swimming world online. An X account called @herwaysports tweeted: 'Australia's Kaylee McKeown has added to her incredible legacy, breaking the World Champs and Oceania record tonight on her way to 100m Backstroke gold tonight in Singapore. 'Her time of 57.16 was just ahead of American arch rival Regan Smith.' Swimming identity Kyle Sockwell wrote: 'This rivalry between Kaylee McKeown and Regan Smith is wildly under-appreciated. What a race again.' Another X user replied: 'Rivalry or one sided domination, brother? Kaylee smashes her every time when it counts.' The official World Aquatics account wrote: 'Big big thumbs up for Kaylee McKeown! Championships and Australian Record to secure the Gold Medal on the Women's 100m Backstroke!'
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
YouTube to be included in government's new under-16s social media legislation
The Albanese Government will include YouTube in its world-first under-16 social media laws that come into effect at the end of the year. Proposed age-restricted social media platforms originally included Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X, but not YouTube as the Government believed it had educational benefits. But eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant intervened following a survey of adolescents, finding YouTube can be just as harmful as other sites. Online Safety (Age-Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules will be tabled in Federal Parliament on Wednesday to specify which types of online services will not be captured by the social media legislation, including online gaming, messaging apps, health and education services. The government said these types of online services have been excluded from the new minimum age obligations because they pose less of a risk to under 16s, or are regulated under different laws. From December 10, 2025, all services that meet the definition of 'age-restricted social media platform' in the Act, and are not excluded in the rules, will be subject to the social media minimum age law including fines up to $49.5 million. 'We have parents' backs' The prime minister says his government is making it clear that it stands on the side of families. 'Social media has a social responsibility and there is no doubt that Australian kids are being negatively impacted by online platforms so I'm calling time on it,' Albanese said. 'Social media is doing social harm to our children and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.' Communications Minister Anika Wells said the government 'is giving kids a reprieve from the persuasive and pervasive pull of social media while giving parents peace of mind'. 'We want kids to know who they are before platforms assume who they are,' Wells said. 'There is no one perfect solution when it comes to keeping young Australians safer online – but the social media minimum age will make a significantly positive difference to their wellbeing. 'The rules are not a set and forget, they are a set and support. 'There are heavy penalties for companies who fail to take reasonable steps to prevent underage account holders onto their services of up to $49.5 million. 'There's a place for social media, but there's not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children.' 'Voices against the cod cannot be ignored' The Opposition is now questioning the advice and authority of the eSafety Commissioner. Shadow communications spokesperson Melissa McIntosh said 'the remit of the eSafety Commission without adequate safeguards is now in question.' 'Requiring adults to log in to an account to browse the internet is taking the eSafety Commissioner's power to a new level which needs to be scrutinised,' McIntosh said. 'The voices against the code cannot be ignored and whilst the intent is to protect young people from harms it is essential that this is balanced with a person's right to privacy and protection of their personal freedoms.'
