The Australian government has reversed its earlier decision to exempt YouTube from a landmark social media ban targeting under-16s, following concerns raised by the country’s internet watchdog.
The eSafety Commission urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government to reconsider YouTube’s exclusion last month, after a study revealed that 37% of children aged 10 to 15 reported exposure to harmful material on the platform—more than on any other social media site.
In response, Albanese said his administration is taking a firm stand. “Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs,” he said.
“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,” he added.
Under the new rules, which come into effect in December, platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok will be required to enforce a minimum age of 16 or face fines of up to AU$49.5 million (around $32.2 million). The legislation was passed in November 2024.
The decision was welcomed by other social media companies who had argued that YouTube's earlier exemption was unfair, as it allowed one major platform to sidestep the new restrictions.
A YouTube spokesperson said, “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.”
Communications Minister Anika Wells clarified that the law will not apply to online gaming, messaging apps, or education and health websites, which she said pose fewer risks or are covered under different legal frameworks.
“The rules are not a set and forget, they are a set and support,” she said.
Australia’s legislation is the first of its kind globally, aiming to curb the growing influence of social media on mental health among young users. Studies have increasingly linked social platforms to anxiety, depression, and body image issues in teenagers.
According to national statistics, more than 80% of children aged 12 to 15 use social media, often without adequate age verification.
A large fire at the import cargo complex of Dhaka airport has caused significant damage to goods and materials belonging to key garment exporters, wit...
The Orenburg gas processing plant, the world's largest facility of its kind, has been forced to halt its intake of gas from Kazakhstan following a Ukr...
Israel launched air strikes and artillery fire on Gaza on Sunday, in what officials called a response to militant attacks, as the U.S.-mediated ceasef...
The Louvre Museum in Paris was closed on Sunday after thieves broke in and stole “priceless” jewellery from the Napoleon collection, the French go...
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy said he is not afraid of going to prison, days before beginning a five-year sentence over his 2007 campaign fi...
Controversial American political commentator Candace Owens has lost her bid to enter Australia after the country’s highest court on Wednesday backed the government’s decision to deny her a visa over concerns she could “incite discord” in the community.
Australia has launched a multimillion-dollar marketing campaign that depicts its world-first ban on social media for teenagers as "for the good of our kids" ahead of its December start date.
The U.S. State Department has approved a potential sale of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and associated equipment to Australia, the Pentagon announced Tuesday.
Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman and country music star Keith Urban have separated after 19 years of marriage, various news outlets reported on Monday, citing unidentified sources.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
A large fire at the import cargo complex of Dhaka airport has caused significant damage to goods and materials belonging to key garment exporters, with losses and impacts on trade potentially amounting to millions of dollars, according to industry leaders on Sunday.
The Orenburg gas processing plant, the world's largest facility of its kind, has been forced to halt its intake of gas from Kazakhstan following a Ukrainian drone strike, according to Kazakhstan's energy ministry.
The Louvre Museum in Paris was closed on Sunday after thieves broke in and stole “priceless” jewellery from the Napoleon collection, the French government said.
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy said he is not afraid of going to prison, days before beginning a five-year sentence over his 2007 campaign financing case linked to Libya.
Millions of Americans took to the streets for “No Kings” rallies across all 50 states, denouncing what they called the corruption and authoritarianism of President Donald Trump.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment