Australia’s groundbreaking Social Media Minimum Age Act, set to take effect on December 10, has ignited a fierce confrontation between the government and technology giants. The legislation will automatically sign out users under 16 from their YouTube accounts, stripping them of upload capabilities, comment functions, and wellbeing features like break reminders.
YouTube has launched a vigorous counterargument, claiming the ‘rushed’ regulations will ultimately decrease child safety online. Rachel Lord, Public Policy Senior Manager at Google and YouTube Australia, stated the ban undermines more than a decade of development in parental controls and robust protections. ‘This law will not fulfil its promise to make kids safer online, and will, in fact, make Australian kids less safe on YouTube,’ Lord asserted.
Communications Minister Anika Wells delivered a sharp rebuttal, characterizing YouTube’s position as ‘outright weird’ for highlighting platform dangers while opposing regulatory solutions. ‘If YouTube is reminding us all that it is not safe… that’s a problem that YouTube needs to fix,’ Wells declared during a Wednesday address.
The regulatory landscape extends beyond YouTube. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has turned attention to emerging platforms Lemon8 (a TikTok sibling app) and Yope, demanding self-assessment regarding their compliance obligations. The government reversed YouTube’s exemption from the ban in July after identifying it as the most frequently cited platform where children aged 10-15 encountered harmful content.
Penalties for non-compliance reach A$49.5 million, requiring tech companies to deactivate existing underage accounts and prevent new registrations. The comprehensive ban encompasses Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, Twitch, Threads, Reddit, and Kick.
Minister Wells framed the legislation as protection for ‘Generation Alpha’ from what she described as ‘predatory algorithms’ that function as ‘behavioral cocaine’ and create a ‘dopamine drip’ through constant notifications. Tech companies must now submit six-monthly reports detailing under-16 accounts on their platforms.
Google has reportedly considered legal challenges against YouTube’s inclusion in the ban, though the company declined BBC requests for comment. As implementation approaches, Wells acknowledged anticipated ‘teething problems’ while emphasizing that ‘regulation, and cultural change, takes time. Takes patience.’