The Australian federal government has enacted legislation prohibiting social media access for children under 16 while currently working on “online safety rules” to define specifics and exclusions surrounding this ban. The aim is to finalise these regulations by mid-year, allowing stakeholders, including families and industries, time to adjust before implementation at the end of 2025.
During this consultation phase, major social media companies have submitted feedback to the government. Submissions from Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram), TikTok, and Snap (the owner of Snapchat) target specific concerns raised in a discussion paper circulated among stakeholders. The paper outlines initial intentions for the regulations and exclusion criteria for certain platforms.
The feedback focused particularly on whether platforms like YouTube should be exempt from the age restrictions. The social media companies argued against a selective exemption for YouTube, stating that all services should be subject to the same rules. Meta emphasised that YouTube is widely used by children under 16 in Australia and contains harmful content similar to other platforms. They also noted that the educational justification for exempting YouTube is insufficient since the law only restricts account creation, not content access.
TikTok echoed these sentiments, claiming that any resurgence of educational content allows for teachers to share YouTube links without requiring students to have accounts. They admonished the government’s proposal as fundamentally flawed and anti-competitive, as it favours one platform over others and could jeopardise effective online safety measures for children.
Snap’s submission highlighted the necessary fair application of rules across all platforms. Both TikTok and Meta expressed concerns regarding the government’s transparency and the rushed nature of the consultation.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland defended the government’s approach, asserting the importance of thorough consultation to ensure a robust policy framework. She acknowledged that this legislation represents a worldwide first and stated the need for comprehensive measures to protect children online.
The debate over the exclusion of platforms like YouTube from the ban stresses the complexities of implementing age restrictions in a digital environment, as these platforms play significant roles in both entertainment and education for young audiences. Stakeholders await further clarification and justification regarding these exemptions from the government.