Australia adds YouTube in list of banned sites for under-16s

As part of enforcing its first-ever social media ban for teenagers, Australia has also imposed new restrictions on the video-sharing platform YouTube, owned by Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O).

Following the decision, at least three-quarters of Australians aged between 13 and 15 will not longer be able to use social media apps due to governmental checks. 

The decision was taken on the request of internet regulators, citing a survey that revealed that at least 37% of minors reported harmful content on the site. 

"I'm calling time on it," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement, highlighting that Australian children were being negatively affected by online platforms and reminding social media of their social responsibility.

"I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs."  

Read: New Senate bill poposes social media ban for children under 16

The new decision indicated that the ban will take effect in December.

Reuters quoted YouTube claims, stating that almost 75% of Australians between the ages of 13 and 15 use the platform, and they argue that it shouldn't be considered social media since its main purpose is to host videos.

"Our position remains clear,” said YouTube’s spokesperson in a response to Reuters’ query, adding that it is “a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It's not social media," a YouTube spokesperson said by email.

Last year, the Australian government described YouTube as a popular teaching platform and exempted it from the ban, but now it is covered.

YouTube shares similar products as other sites, such as enabling user interactions and suggesting content via an algorithm that considers user activity.

The prohibition makes it illegal for individuals under the age of 16 to have YouTube accounts, while permitting parents and educators to display videos to minors.

Read: Meta deletes 10 million Facebook accounts in crackdown on spam, AI-generated content

"Teachers are always curators of any resource for appropriateness (and) will be judicious," said Angela Falkenberg, president of the Australian Primary Principals Association, which supports the ban.

Recently, YouTube informed Reuters that it had reached out to the government, advocating for the "upholding of the integrity of the legislative process." 

Australian media reported that YouTube warned of a potential court challenge, although YouTube did not verify this claim.

The legislation enacted in November mandates that social media platforms take "reasonable steps" to prevent access for Australians below the age of 16, or they could incur fines of as much as A$49.5 million. 

The government is expected to get a report this month on age-verification product trials, and it has indicated that the findings will impact how the ban is enforced.