Canberra, March 5 (NationPress) Three social media platforms -- TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat -- have voiced their opposition to proposed regulations that would allow YouTube to be exempt from Australia’s forthcoming social media ban targeting teenagers.

The trio of tech companies submitted their concerns during a government consultation regarding the ban, which prohibits Australian minors under the age of 16 from using social media starting at the end of 2025. This groundbreaking legislation, enacted in November last year, aims to safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

The Australian government is facing scrutiny over allegations of providing YouTube with a special exemption, as its competitors mount a coordinated public effort against the decision, labeling it as unfair and inconsistent, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Wednesday.

The final regulations, including any potential exemptions, will be finalized through a private consultation process before the law is implemented in December.

The government defends YouTube's exemption by emphasizing its significance as an educational tool for students, educators, and parents. However, Meta, the parent company of Instagram, argues that YouTube possesses the same features deemed harmful to children, such as algorithm-based content recommendations, continuous autoplay, and incessant notifications.

Meta criticized the exemption, stating it compromises the government’s objective of protecting youth, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

“We urge the government to apply the law uniformly across all social media platforms,” the ABC quoted a Meta spokesperson.

Snapchat characterized YouTube's exemption as a case of “preferential treatment.”

A recent survey from the eSafety Commissioner revealed that 73% of Australians aged 13 to 15 utilize YouTube, making it the most popular platform among teenagers.

Under the new law, social media companies risk fines up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately 31.43 million US dollars) for failing to take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from accessing their platforms.

There will be no penalties for minors or their parents who violate these regulations. Furthermore, social media companies will not be permitted to require users to provide government identification, including the Digital ID, for age verification.

According to the legislation, “messaging apps,” “online gaming services,” and “services primarily aimed at supporting the health and education of end-users” will not be subjected to the ban.