YouTube to Face Australia's Under-16 Social Media Restriction
In a bid to protect children online, the Australian government has announced a social media ban for users under the age of 16. This ban will apply to popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, among others.
The ban is part of the government's "Keeping Kids Safe" initiative, which aims to safeguard children from harmful content. A recent survey involving 3,500 Australian children aged between 10 and 17 revealed that three out of four reported seeing harmful content online. Concerns about YouTube led to its inclusion in the ban, with 37% of children surveyed reporting seeing harmful content on the site.
YouTube, known for its persuasive design features like infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithmic feed, will now be subject to the same rules as other leading platforms. The company has announced new trials of AI in the United States to determine if a user is under 18. If a user is identified as underage, personalized ads will be deactivated, well-being tools will be activated, and repetitive viewing will be limited for some kinds of content.
The government's approach involves mandated age verification using a combination of government-issued IDs and alternative methods. Age assurance verification trials commissioned by the government have revealed technological limitations and privacy risks. The preliminary report noted that while age verification can be conducted in a "private, robust, and effective" manner, there is no single universal or fully reliable solution that fits all scenarios.
The final report, expected later in 2025, will set compliance benchmarks for platforms. Enforcement of the ban will begin by December 2025, with social media companies bearing the burden of preventing underage users from maintaining accounts. Children or families are not penalized for bypassing restrictions.
The government aims to balance privacy with effectiveness in age verification, avoiding excessive data collection or invasive measures. However, concerns have emerged that platforms are "over-anticipating the eventual needs of regulators about providing personal information for future investigations."
Not all platforms are included in the ban. Messaging apps like WhatsApp and educational platforms are exempt, as are online games due to lower identified risks.
The decision to include YouTube in the ban has been met with opposition. A representative of the Wiggles, a popular Australian children's entertainment group, has argued against the inclusion, stating that the platform provides valuable educational content for young children.
The government passed "world-leading" legislation last year, providing a 12-month buffer to figure out how it will work. The ban will put an onus on social media platforms to prevent children under 16 from having an account, or risk fines of nearly 50 million Australian dollars ($32 million).
Harmful content on YouTube includes sexist, misogynistic or hateful ideas, dangerous online challenges or fight videos, or content that encourages unhealthy eating or exercise habits. The signals used by YouTube to determine age include the types of videos a user is searching for, the categories of videos they have watched, or the longevity of the account.
TikTok, another platform covered by the ban, has been running ads in Australia touting the platform as an educational tool. The company has not yet announced any measures to comply with the upcoming ban.
As the deadline approaches, social media companies are scrambling to implement age verification systems that balance privacy concerns with effectiveness. The government's age assurance trials have provided valuable insights into the limits and challenges of these systems, emphasizing the need for a balanced, multi-faceted verification framework.
- The Australian government's "Keeping Kids Safe" initiative, aimed at safeguarding children from harmful online content, will soon include YouTube following concerns about inappropriate content on the platform.
- The government's age verification system, part of the initiative, is under development and aims to strike a balance between privacy and effectiveness, avoiding excessive data collection or invasive measures.
- Although messaging apps like WhatsApp, educational platforms, and online games have been exempted due to lower identified risks, TikTok, another popular social media platform covered by the ban, has yet to announce its plans for compliance with the upcoming measures.
