Australia Adds YouTube to List of Platforms Banned From Serving Under-16s
Australia on Wednesday added YouTube to the list of social media companies barred from allowing children younger than 16 on their services. The restrictions take effect Dec. 10.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Privacy Daily provides accurate coverage of newsworthy developments in data protection legislation, regulation, litigation, and enforcement for privacy professionals responsible for ensuring effective organizational data privacy compliance.
Other age-restricted platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and X, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's office announced. The platforms could be fined up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32 million) for failing to take steps to prevent underage account holders on their services.
Keeping kids off social media until they reach 16 "will protect young Australians at the critical stage of their development, giving them three more years to build real world connections and online resilience," the government said.
The restrictions won't apply to online gaming, messaging apps, or health and education services because they pose fewer harms to kids younger than 16 or are regulated by different laws, the government noted. Platforms affected are those that let users interact and post material.
Albanese said the law shows that his government stands on the side of families. Communications Minister Anika Wells added, "There's a place for social media, but there's not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children."