At the end of last year, Australia passed Law on the prohibition of social networks For all people under the age of 16. Now some of these companies, namely Meta, Tiktok and Snap, are not satisfied with one exception: YouTube. Australia considered YouTube a critical education tool and allows the use, despite the initial assumption that the platform owned by Google will be included Reuters And Keeper ReportsField
This follows last month report From the Commissioner for Esiassogy in Australia, who discovered that YouTube is the most popular platform from 13-15-year-old, less than three quarters of this age range, using it in 2024. It is noteworthy that any under the age of 16 should be part of a family account, which offers the rights to parent supervision to use YouTube.
The comments from Big Tech were indicated. “It is illogical to limit two platforms, freeing the third. It would be like a ban on the sale of non-alcoholic beverages by minors, but freeing from Coca-Cola, ”said Ella Wood-Joyis, director of Tiktok’s state policy in Australia and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Meta called the Australian government for unsuccessful transparency and made “a mockery of the declared intention of the government when adopting a law on the ban on age in order to protect young people.”
Snap confirmed the fears of his colleagues of the platforms, saying: “There should be fair and impartial use of exceptions, and all services must be observed in the same standard.” At the same time, Snap claims that this is a message exchange service and, therefore, should not be part of the ban.
Australia prohibition on social networks For the younger age of 16, they must enter into force on the end of this year. Time will tell whether the outrage of Big Tech will change the influence on YouTube.