Latest news with #Wells
Mint
3 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
YouTube faces age restrictions in Australia amid online harm concerns, government threatens $50 million fines
The Australian government has confirmed that YouTube will be subject to a new minimum age requirement for social media platforms, reversing a previous decision to exclude the video-sharing site from the restrictions. From 10 December, users under the age of 16 will be prohibited from holding accounts on platforms deemed 'age-restricted', including YouTube. Notably, the change follows the release of new government rules detailing which services fall under the scope of the legislation passed by Parliament last November. At the time, YouTube had been exempted, unlike platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and Snapchat. Communications Minister Anika Wells said the inclusion of YouTube is based on recent government findings showing that 40 per cent of Australian children who reported harm online cited the platform as the source. 'We will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids,' Wells told reporters. The restrictions, which aim to curb online harm among minors, will carry potential penalties of up to A$50 million (approximately £26 million) for companies that fail to take 'responsible steps' to prevent underage users from creating accounts. However, the government has yet to specify what those responsible steps should involve. Children will still be able to access YouTube content without logging into an account, but will not be allowed to create or use personal accounts. In response, YouTube criticised the move, stating that it contradicts a previous public commitment from the government to exclude the platform from the ban. 'YouTube is a video sharing platform, not social media,' the company said in a statement, adding it will review the decision and continue discussions with the government. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signalled that Australia will take the issue to the international stage, announcing plans to raise the matter at a United Nations forum in New York this September. He said the influence of social media on children is a global concern shared by other nations. The government commissioned an evaluation of age-verification technologies to explore how children could be excluded from platforms. Although the final recommendations are still pending, Minister Wells confirmed that users will not be required to upload documents such as passports or driving licences to verify their age. She argued that platforms already possess detailed data on users' activity and could use that to determine their age. 'These platforms know with deadly accuracy who we are, what we do and when we do it,' she said. Apps and services focused on gaming, education, health, or direct messaging have been excluded from the regulations, with government documents suggesting they are viewed as less harmful than mainstream social media platforms.
Egypt Independent
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
YouTube to be included in Australia's social media ban for children under 16
Brisbane, Australia — Australia has picked a fight with the world's largest video platform by backtracking on an earlier promise to exclude YouTube in its social media ban for children under 16. The Labor government said Wednesday the site, which is owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, will be subject to the same rules as other leading platforms – Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X – under legislation due to come into effect in December. The ban puts the onus on social media platforms to prevent children under 16 from having an account on their sites, or risk fines of nearly 50 million Australian dollars ($32 million). A YouTube spokesperson said the decision to include it in the ban 'reverses a clear, public commitment' from the government to treat the site as an educational tool. 'We will consider next steps and will continue to engage with the government,' the spokesman said, omitting any comment on the status of reported legal threats. YouTube Kids won't be included in the ban because it doesn't allow users to upload videos, or comment on them. Speaking Wednesday, Communications Minister Anika Wells likened the ban to teaching children to swim – a basic life skill in Australia where many suburban homes come with a swimming pool. 'It is like trying to teach your kids to swim in the open ocean, with the (rip currents) and the sharks, compared to at the local council pool,' she said. 'We can't control the ocean, but we can police the sharks, and that's why I will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the well-being of Australian kids.' The government said the decision to include YouTube was influenced by a survey released by Australia's independent online regulator, the eSafety Commission, this month that found 37% of children surveyed had reported seeing harmful content on the site. Harmful content includes sexist, misogynistic or hateful ideas, dangerous online challenges or fight videos, or content that encourages unhealthy eating or exercise habits. Anika Wells speaks in Sydney, Australia, on March 7, 2024.'YouTube uses the same persuasive design features as other social media platforms, like infinite scroll, like autoplay and algorithmic feed,' Wells told Parliament Wednesday. 'Our kids don't stand a chance, and that is why I accepted the eSafety (Commission) recommendation that YouTube should not be treated differently from other social media platforms.' How will it work? The government passed what it has called 'world-leading' legislation last year, providing a 12-month buffer to figure out how it was going to work. As part of its research, the government commissioned age assurance verification trials to test the limits of different technologies to inform the rules it'll impose on social media companies. A preliminary report released in June reached 12 findings, including that age verification can be done in a 'private, robust and effective' way. But it also found there was no 'single ubiquitous solution' that would suit all cases, nor one that was 100% effective. The report also said 'concerning evidence' had emerged that platforms were 'over-anticipating the eventual needs of regulators about providing personal information for future investigations.' 'Some providers were found to be building tools to enable regulators, law enforcement or Coroners to retrace the actions taken by individuals to verify their age which could lead to increased risk of privacy breaches due to unnecessary and disproportionate collection and retention of data,' the preliminary report found. Privacy concerns have been raised by critics of the plan – while others say it will limit options for isolated and vulnerable children who rely on social platforms for support. Wells has acknowledged the ban won't be perfect. 'Kids, God bless them, are going to find a way around this. Maybe they're all going to swarm on LinkedIn. We don't know,' she said. The industry perspective YouTube and other platforms say they're already taking steps to protect children online. This week, YouTube announced new trials of AI in the United States to interpret a 'variety of signals' to determine if a user is under 18. 'These signals include the types of videos a user is searching for, the categories of videos they have watched, or the longevity of the account,' YouTube said in a statement. If users are determined to be under 18, personalized ads will be deactivated, well-being tools will be activated, and repetitive viewing will be limited for some kinds of content, the company said. Platforms have been lobbying against the Australian ban – appealing to the government and Australian parents to rethink the proposal. TikTok has recently run ads on Facebook in the country touting the platform as an educational tool. 'From fishing to chef skills, Aussie teens are learning something new every day on TikTok,' says one online ad. Wells revealed Wednesday that YouTube had dispatched a representative of the Wiggles, the hugely popular Australian children's entertainment group, to argue against its inclusion in the ban. Jeff Fatt, Murray Cook, Greg Page and Anthony Field pose during the 'Hot Potato: The Story Of The Wiggles' World Premiere at SXSW Sydney on October 19, SXSW Sydney 'The Wiggles are a treasured Australian institution. But like I said to them, you're arguing that my 4-year-old twins right to have a YouTube login is more important than the fact that four out of 10 of their peers will experience online harm on YouTube, and they might be two of those four,' Wells told CNN affiliate 9 News, citing a recent survey by the eSafety Commission. 'I just didn't find that argument ultimately persuasive.' Almost 3,500 Australian children, ages 10-17, took part in the 'Keeping Kids Safe' survey between December 2024 and February 2025. Three out of four reported seeing harmful content.
New York Post
4 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
Australia bans YouTube accounts for children under 16 in reversal of previous stance
The Australian government announced that YouTube will be among the social media platforms that must ensure account holders are at least 16 years old from December, reversing a position taken months ago on the popular video-sharing service. YouTube was listed as an exemption in November last year when the Parliament passed world-first laws that will ban Australian children younger than 16 from platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X. Communications Minister Anika Wells released rules Wednesday that decide which online services are defined as 'age-restricted social media platforms' and which avoid the age limit. 4 The Australian government announced that YouTube will be among the social media platforms that must ensure account holders are at least 16 years old from December. AP The age restrictions take effect Dec. 10, and platforms will face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for 'failing to take responsible steps' to exclude underage account holders, a government statement said. The steps are not defined. Wells defended applying the restrictions to YouTube and said the government would not be intimidated by threats of legal action from the platform's U.S. owner, Alphabet Inc. 'The evidence cannot be ignored that four out of 10 Australian kids report that their most recent harm was on YouTube,' Wells told reporters, referring to government research. 'We will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids.' Children will be able to access YouTube but will not be allowed to have their own YouTube accounts. 4 YouTube was listed as an exemption in November last year when the Parliament passed world-first laws that will ban Australian children younger than 16 from social media platforms. AP YouTube said the government's decision 'reverses a clear, public commitment to exclude YouTube from this ban.' 'We share the government's goal of addressing and reducing online harms. Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It's not social media,' a YouTube statement said, noting it will consider next steps and engage with the government. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia would campaign at a United Nations forum in New York in September for international support for banning children from social media. 'I know from the discussions I've had with other leaders that they are looking at this and they are considering what impact social media is having on young people in their respective nations,' Albanese said. 'It is a common experience. This is not an Australian experience.' Last year, the government commissioned an evaluation of age assurance technologies that was to report last month on how young children could be excluded from social media. The government had yet to receive that evaluation's final recommendations, Wells said. But she added that the platform users won't have to upload documents such as passports and driver's licenses to prove their age. 'Platforms have to provide an alternative to providing your own personal identification documents to satisfy themselves of age,' Wells said. 'These platforms know with deadly accuracy who we are, what we do and when we do it. And they know that you've had a Facebook account since 2009, so they know that you are over 16.' 4 Children will be able to access YouTube but will not be allowed to have their own YouTube accounts. AP 4 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) said Australia would campaign at a United Nations forum in New York in September for international support for banning children from social media. REUTERS Exempt services include online gaming, messaging, education, and health apps. They are excluded because they are considered less harmful to children. The minimum age is intended to address harmful impacts on children, including addictive behaviors caused by persuasive or manipulative platform design features, social isolation, sleep interference, poor mental and physical health, low life-satisfaction, and exposure to inappropriate and harmful content, government documents say.
Arab Times
5 hours ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Australia bans YouTube accounts for children under 16
MELBOURNE, Australia, July 30, (AP): The Australian government announced YouTube will be among the social media platforms that must ensure account holders are at least 16-years-old from December, reversing a position taken months ago on the popular video-sharing service. YouTube was listed as an exemption in November last year when the Parliament passed world-first laws that will ban Australian children younger than 16 from platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and X. Communications Minister Anika Wells released rules Wednesday that decide which online services are defined as "age-restricted social media platforms' and which avoid the age limit. The age restrictions take effect Dec. 10 and platforms will face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for "failing to take responsible steps' to exclude underage account holders, a government statement said. The steps are not defined. Wells defended applying the restrictions to YouTube and said the government would not be intimidated by threats of legal action from the platform's U.S. owner, Alphabet Inc. "The evidence cannot be ignored that four out of 10 Australian kids report that their most recent harm was on YouTube,' Wells told reporters, referring to government research. "We will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids.' Children will be able to access YouTube but will not be allowed to have their own YouTube accounts. YouTube said the government's decision "reverses a clear, public commitment to exclude YouTube from this ban.' "We share the government's goal of addressing and reducing online harms. Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It's not social media,' a YouTube statement said, noting it will consider next steps and engage with the government. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia would campaign at a United Nations forum in New York in September for international support for banning children from social media. "I know from the discussions I've had with other leaders that they are looking at this and they are considering what impact social media is having on young people in their respective nations,' Albanese said. "It is a common experience. This is not an Australian experience." Last year, the government commissioned an evaluation of age assurance technologies that was to report last month on how young children could be excluded from social media. The government had yet to receive that evaluation's final recommendations, Wells said. But she added the platform users won't have to upload documents such as passports and driver's licenses to prove their age. "Platforms have to provide an alternative to providing your own personal identification documents to satisfy themselves of age,' Wells said. "These platforms know with deadly accuracy who we are, what we do and when we do it. And they know that you've had a Facebook account since 2009, so they know that you are over 16." Exempt services include online gaming, messaging, education and health apps. They are excluded because they are considered less harmful to children. The minimum age is intended to address harmful impacts on children including addictive behaviors caused by persuasive or manipulative platform design features, social isolation, sleep interference, poor mental and physical health, low life-satisfaction and exposure to inappropriate and harmful content, government documents say.
Global News
6 hours ago
- Business
- Global News
Australia announces YouTube account ban for children under 16
The Australian government announced YouTube will be among the social media platforms that must ensure account holders are at least 16-years-old from December, reversing a position taken months ago on the popular video-sharing service. YouTube was listed as an exemption in November last year when the Parliament passed world-first laws that will ban Australian children younger than 16 from platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and X. Communications Minister Anika Wells released rules Wednesday that decide which online services are defined as 'age-restricted social media platforms' and which avoid the age limit. The age restrictions take effect Dec. 10 and platforms will face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (US$33 million) for 'failing to take responsible steps' to exclude underage account holders, a government statement said. The steps are not defined. Wells defended applying the restrictions to YouTube and said the government would not be intimidated by threats of legal action from the platform's U.S. owner, Alphabet Inc. Story continues below advertisement 'The evidence cannot be ignored that four out of 10 Australian kids report that their most recent harm was on YouTube,' Wells told reporters, referring to government research. 'We will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Children will be able to access YouTube but will not be allowed to have their own YouTube accounts. 1:55 Quebec looks into social media ban for children under 14 YouTube said the government's decision 'reverses a clear, public commitment to exclude YouTube from this ban.' 'We share the government's goal of addressing and reducing online harms. Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It's not social media,' a YouTube statement said, noting it will consider next steps and engage with the government. Story continues below advertisement Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia would campaign at a United Nations forum in New York in September for international support for banning children from social media. 'I know from the discussions I've had with other leaders that they are looking at this and they are considering what impact social media is having on young people in their respective nations,' Albanese said. 'It is a common experience. This is not an Australian experience.' Last year, the government commissioned an evaluation of age assurance technologies that was to report last month on how young children could be excluded from social media. The government had yet to receive that evaluation's final recommendations, Wells said. But she added the platform users won't have to upload documents such as passports and driver's licenses to prove their age. 'Platforms have to provide an alternative to providing your own personal identification documents to satisfy themselves of age,' Wells said. 'These platforms know with deadly accuracy who we are, what we do and when we do it. And they know that you've had a Facebook account since 2009, so they know that you are over 16.' Exempt services include online gaming, messaging, education and health apps. They are excluded because they are considered less harmful to children. The minimum age is intended to address harmful impacts on children including addictive behaviors caused by persuasive or manipulative platform design features, social isolation, sleep interference, poor mental and physical health, low life-satisfaction and exposure to inappropriate and harmful content, government documents say.
