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.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. T...
The U.S. Coast Guard has called off its search for three people missing after a pontoon boat capsized near Alcatraz, leaving four people dead or presu...
Toronto experienced the worst air quality of any major city in the world on Wednesday as thick smoke from wildfires burning across north-western Ontar...
Australia will establish an Office of AI to coordinate artificial intelligence standards and oversee major data centres as the government prepares new laws on their energy and water use, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday (15 July).
Australia's internet safety regulator has accused some of the world's biggest technology companies of failing to do enough to combat child sexual abuse and the growing threat of online sexual extortion.
New Zealand actor Sam Neill, best known internationally for his role in 'Jurassic Park', died suddenly on Monday aged 78 after recovering from cancer, his family said.
Australia on Friday confirmed the first case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus in a native seabird, marking a new phase in the disease's spread after it landed on the country's shores last month.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
The United States carried out a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iranian shipping and proposed a 20% fee on cargo passing through the strategic waterway.
The death toll from the fire at a live music pub in Bangkok has climbed to 32 after two more victims died from their injuries, according to Thailand's Police Hospital.
Ukraine and Russia exchanged fresh attacks on Tuesday, with Kyiv targeting shipping and energy infrastructure inside Russia while Moscow launched another large-scale missile and drone assault on Ukrainian cities.
IBM has warned that a surge in spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure is weighing on its core business, in one of the clearest signs yet of how the AI boom is reshaping the technology sector.
The U.S. Coast Guard has called off its search for three people missing after a pontoon boat capsized near Alcatraz, leaving four people dead or presumed dead.
The chief engineer at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been killed in a drone strike near the facility, according to Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 16th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
More than 500 people are feared to have died after two boats carrying mostly Rohingya refugees are believed to have capsized off the coast of Myanmar, according to the United Nations.
The U.S. House of Representatives has rejected an amendment that sought to end U.S. security assistance to Israel. The vote however exposed growing divisions within the Democratic Party over Washington's support for Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment