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.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 20 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Australia has confirmed its first mainland case of H5N1 bird flu, ending its status as the only continent with a mainland free of the virus and prompting authorities to step up efforts to contain any spread.
Russia has called for clarification on whether U.S. President Donald Trump has changed his position on the war in Ukraine following remarks made at the recent G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains.
As Western Europe battles a deadly heatwave that has shattered temperature records, disrupted transport and power supplies, and forced the closure of schools and cultural landmarks, attention is turning to whether El Niño is playing a role in the extreme conditions.
Israel's defence minister said on Wednesday Israeli troops will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, highlighting a hurdle to Iran-U.S. peace talks, as the top U.S. diplomat tours the Middle East to win over allies sceptical about a proposed deal.
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution on Wednesday that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally authorised military action.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into "infinity, despite Tehran's denials, and that unfrozen Iranian assets would be used to buy humanitarian supplies from the United States.
The United Kingdom recorded a provisional high of 36.4°C on Thursday, according to the Met Office, making it the hottest June day on record. The extreme heat is part of a wider heatwave affecting much of Western Europe, with temperatures remaining well above seasonal averages.
China has urged the United States to end its decades-long sanctions and embargo on Cuba after Washington imposed new restrictive measures on entities and an individual linked to the Cuban government.
India and the U.S. are close to finalising a long-awaited trade agreement, Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday after the latest round of negotiations with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Hungary's ruling Tisza party has proposed a constitutional amendment that would remove President Tamás Sulyok from office, introduce term limits for MPs and overhaul key elements of the country's political system.
The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for President Donald Trump's administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Haiti and Syria, handing the White House another victory on immigration.
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