The Australian federal government has implemented a legislative ban on social media use for children under 16 and is now holding a “targeted” consultation to develop specific online safety regulations. These guidelines are anticipated to be crafted by mid-2024, allowing families and industries time to adjust before the ban takes effect at the end of 2025.
Despite the government’s closed consultation process, major social media platforms, including Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), TikTok, and Snap (responsible for Snapchat), have submitted their feedback. This feedback relates to a discussion paper provided as part of the consultation initiative but focused only on select issues raised within the document, which briefly outlines objectives and excluded platforms.
Significantly, there is strong opposition concerning the proposed exclusion of YouTube from age restrictions, with all three platforms arguing against it. Meta stated that such exclusion lacks justification, highlighting YouTube’s considerable popularity among Australian youth and noting that it contains the same risks that prompted the legislation. TikTok characterised the exemption for YouTube as irrational, suggesting that it creates an unfair competitive advantage and questioning the government’s rationale if educational content is the core concern.
Both TikTok and Meta emphasised that the law only restricts the creation of accounts for underage users, not their access to content. This raises questions about the overall effectiveness of the ban as it does not prevent underage individuals from viewing content, whether educational or otherwise. Industry experts have expressed concerns about the rushed and opaque nature of the consultation.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, responsible for finalising the guidelines, asserted that thorough consultations are essential due to the unprecedented nature of the legislation. She pointed out that the government is committed to ensuring a robust strategy surrounding social media access limits for minors.
As the debate continues, the government will need to clarify the reasoning behind YouTube’s exemption to the public, especially as submissions expose significant concerns regarding the potential implications of the ban for competition and child safety online.