Australia Bans Teenagers From Accessing YouTube, Revokes Exception Status From Social Media Rules

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (photo: x @AlboMP)

JAKARTA The Australian government has officially expanded the ban on the use of social media for teens by embedding YouTube on a list of banned platforms. This invalidated the previous decision that granted the Alphabet-owned video sharing site an exception. This move also opens up the potential for new legal disputes between governments and global tech giants.

The ban is scheduled to take effect in December and applies to all Australians under the age of 16. In its official statement, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that this decision was taken for the protection of children from the negative impact of digital content.

"I declare it's time to stop," said Albanese, quoted by VOI from Reuters. I want Australian parents to know that we are on their side.

The government's decision was taken after Australia's Internet Regulatory Authority called for an exclusion of YouTube, following survey results showing that 37% of minors find malicious content on the platform the highest number compared to other social media.

YouTube responded to this decision with objections, stating that their platform is not social media, but a video sharing site that is widely used to watch quality content on television screens.

"Our position is clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform, not social media," a YouTube spokesperson said via email. They emphasize that YouTube is widely used by teachers and has an educational function.

Criticism from Other Platforms

Since the YouTube exemptions were announced last year, several banned platforms such as Facebook and Instagram (Meta), Snapchat, and TikTok, have protested because they thought YouTube had similar features such as algorithmic recommendation systems and interaction features between users.

Although YouTube accounts for children under 16 are prohibited, exceptions still apply to teachers and parents to play videos directly for children, as long as they are carried out in an educational context.

The President of the Association of Australian Principals, Angela Falkenberg, expressed her support for this policy. Teachers have always been suitable content curators and will remain wise in their use," he said.

New Regulations And Potential Lawsuits

This government move also drew a strong response from YouTube. According to local media reports, YouTube has reportedly threatened to take the case to court, although the company did not officially confirm any lawsuits.

However, Australia's Minister of Communication, Anika Wells, stressed that he would not be afraid to face the threat of law. "I will not be intimidated by the threat of law. This is a real struggle for the welfare of Australian children," he said in front of parliament.

The law passed in November 2024 requires social media platforms to take reasonable measures to prevent children under 16 from using their services. If they fail to comply, the company could be fined up to USD 49.5 million (approximately IDR 526 billion).

The government is currently awaiting a final report regarding a trial of age verification technology, the results of which will form the basis for the implementation and enforcement of this new policy.

This step is an important milestone in containing the dominance of great technology and protecting children, said Adam Marre, Chief Information Security Officer of cybersecurity firm Arctic Wolf.