'Significant positive impact': Australia to ban children from YouTube; how will the govt restrict underage accounts?

Australia will be blocking children under 16 from creating YouTube accounts starting December. This comes after the federal government reverses its earlier stance to exempt the platform from national social media restrictions for under-16s, reports the Guardian.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese and communications minister Anika Wells are expected to formally announce the decision on Wednesday, the same day YouTube is set to host a major event for MPs at Parliament House, a move likely to spark tension with the Google-owned giant.

“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,” Albanese stated. “Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.”

This decision follows a recommendation from the internet regulator last week, urging the government to reverse YouTube’s exemption. A survey earlier revealed that around 37 percent of minors encountered harmful content on the platform, reports Reuters.

Apart from YouTube, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and others are on the list of age-restricted social media sites . The move comes after eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant highlighted findings from a recent survey of 2,600 children, revealing that nearly 40% had encountered harmful content on YouTube making it “the most frequently cited platform in our research”.

The under-16 bans are set to take place in December, with platforms facing penalties of up to $49.5m if they fail to take “reasonable steps” to prevent children from creating accounts. Some major tech companies have expressed concerns over what constitutes “reasonable steps" to comply with the new rules.

The legislation only limits children from holding accounts, they will still be able to watch YouTube, notes Inman Grant.

“The Albanese government is giving kids a reprieve from the persuasive and pervasive pull of social media while giving parents peace of mind,” said Anika Wells. “There’s a place for social media, but there’s not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children.”

“There is no one perfect solution when it comes to keeping young Australians safer online – but the social media minimum age will make a significantly positive difference to their wellbeing,” she added.

“YouTube is a video sharing platform, not a social media service, that offers benefit and value to younger Australians,” a YouTube spokesperson said on Sunday, reports the Guardian.