YouTube Warns That New Australian Social Media Ban Risks Children's Safety
YouTube has raised alarms about Australia's rushed new laws which will block access to its platform for teenagers. The company's representatives claim that the legislation, set to take effect on December 10, will strip away essential parental controls, thus making children less safe while handling online content.
Under the new law, parents will lose their abilities to supervise their children's accounts, including content settings and the option to block inappropriate channels. This means that children will still be able to watch videos without logging in, thereby losing the monitoring capabilities that parents have relied on.
In response to YouTube’s concerns, Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells remarked that it was outright weird for YouTube to spotlight the dangers associated with its own platform for children. She emphasized that any inherent safety problems need to be addressed directly by YouTube.
The regulatory move occurs as kids flock to a handful of lesser-known apps, such as Lemon8 and Yope, prompting scrutiny from eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, who aims to ensure these platforms comply with the new regulations.
Previously, the Australian government had excluded YouTube from the ban, only to reverse this decision when the eSafety Commissioner cited it as the most frequently cited platform for children aged 10 to 15 encountering harmful content.
A spokesperson for Google Australia and YouTube expressed disappointment with the legislation. The statement highlighted that the ban undermines over a decade of efforts to establish robust protections and cautioned that it would ultimately make kids less safe on the platform. It has also been suggested that Google is reviewing the possibility of a legal challenge against the law.
From December 10 onwards, users under the age of 16 will automatically be logged out of their accounts. This measure prevents them from creating content or commenting on videos. Notably, the YouTube Kids platform is exempt from this ban.
The removal of important wellbeing features, such as reminders to take breaks or for bedtime, further compounds the situation, as these features are contingent on account usage.
Wells acknowledged potential transitional issues as the laws go into effect, asserting that adjustments would be necessary to secure Generation Alpha from the pervasive influence of algorithms designed to capture attention. She referenced past generations facing limited bullying and harmful content, emphasizing the ongoing advancements in technology that make it easier for children to encounter such dangers online.
Under the new regulations, various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others, will also face fines of up to A$49.5 million (approximately US$33 million) for non-compliance. Authorities expect tech companies to provide regular reports on under-16 accounts, ensuring strict adherence to the new guidelines.
