Competing Social Media Platforms Challenge YouTube's Exemption from Australia's Teen Social Media Ban
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Synopsis
On March 5, 2023, three major social media platforms criticized Australia's proposed regulations that would exclude YouTube from a ban on social media for teenagers. The legislation aims to protect the mental health of children under 16. Companies like TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat argue this exemption is unfair and inconsistent with the ban's goals.
Key Takeaways
- Three major platforms oppose YouTube's exemption.
- Proposed regulations aim to protect teenagers' mental health.
- Allegations of a special deal for YouTube are being investigated.
- Final regulations will be decided in private consultations.
- Social media companies could face significant fines for non-compliance.
Canberra, March 5 (NationPress) Three social media platforms -- TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat have voiced their opposition to proposed regulations that would exempt YouTube from Australia’s forthcoming ban on social media usage for teenagers.
The trio of tech companies submitted feedback during a government consultation regarding the ban, which aims to restrict Australian children and teenagers under the age of 16 from accessing social media from the end of 2025. This unprecedented legislation, passed in November last year, is intended to safeguard their mental health and well-being.
The Australian government is facing accusations of having made a special agreement to exclude YouTube from this ban, as its competitors unite in a public campaign against the decision, labeling the proposal as unfair and inconsistent, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Wednesday.
The final regulations, including any exemptions, will be established through a private consultation process before the law is implemented in December.
The government defends YouTube's exemption by underscoring its significance as a valuable educational tool for students, educators, and parents. However, Meta, the parent company of Instagram, argues that YouTube possesses the same features that the government has identified as detrimental to children, such as algorithm-driven content suggestions, endless autoplay, and persistent notifications.
Meta criticized the notion of exempting YouTube, stating it contradicts the government's declared objective of protecting youth, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
“We urge the government to ensure that the law is applied equally across all social media platforms,” the ABC quoted a Meta spokesperson as saying.
Snapchat characterized YouTube's exemption in its submission as a form of “preferential treatment.”
A survey released last month by the eSafety Commissioner revealed that 73 percent of Australians aged 13 to 15 utilize YouTube, which remains the most popular platform among teenagers.
Under the new legislation, social media companies could incur fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately 31.43 million US dollars) for failing to take “reasonable measures” to ensure children under 16 do not use their platforms.
There will be no penalties for minors or parents who disregard the regulations. Furthermore, social media companies will not be permitted to compel users to provide governmental identification, including the Digital ID, to verify their age.
Messaging applications, online gaming services, and platforms primarily aimed at supporting the health and education of end-users will be exempt from the ban, according to the law.
