Australia will include YouTube in the world's first social media ban on children under 16, after initially granting the platform an exemption, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced.
Albanese and Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells told a press conference in Canberra on that the federal government had accepted a recommendation from its online safety regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, to include YouTube in the social media ban.
YouTube was initially exempt from the ban, which was due to take effect on December 10, due to its educational and health content. However, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, in formal advice to the government in June, stated that the platform was exposing children to harmful content.
Albanese said Wednesday that the government was prepared to "take action" on social media platforms that cause social harm.
"We know this is not the only solution and there is more to be done. But it will make a difference," he said.
Wells said the decision to include YouTube in the ban was about "putting the interests of parents before the interests of the platforms."
The announcement came after YouTube and its parent company, Google, threatened legal action on constitutional grounds in early July against the government's move to remove the platform's exemption.
Wells said Wednesday that the government would not be intimidated by tech companies.
"We can't control the ocean, but we can control the sharks, and that's why we won't be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the well-being of Australian children," he said.
In a statement released through Google, a YouTube spokesperson said the decision reverses a clear and public commitment to exempt the platform from Australia's social media ban, and that the company would consider its next steps.
Wells also said Wednesday that the government is awaiting final recommendations from a trial of age-verification technology before explaining how the ban will be implemented.
