Australia's Social Media Ban

Australia has recently passed a law that bans social media for all people under the age of 16. However, there is an exception for YouTube, which has been deemed a critical educational tool. This exemption has sparked controversy among other social media companies, including Meta, TikTok, and Snap.

According to a report by Australia's eSafety Commissioner, YouTube is the most popular platform among 13- to 15-year-olds, with nearly three-quarters of this age group using the platform in 2024. To use YouTube, anyone under 16 must be part of a family account that offers parental supervision rights.

Meta, TikTok, and Snap have expressed their dissatisfaction with the exemption, arguing that it is unfair to restrict their platforms while allowing YouTube to continue operating. TikTok's director of public policy in Australia and New Zealand, Ella Woods-Joyce, stated that it is illogical to restrict two platforms while exempting the third, comparing it to banning the sale of soft drinks to minors but exempting Coca-Cola.

Meta has also criticized the Australian government for failing to provide transparency and making a mockery of the government's stated intention to protect young people. Snap has argued that it is a messaging service and should not be included in the ban, while also stating that there must be a fair and impartial application of exclusions and that all services should be held to the same standard.

The ban on social media for under 16-year-olds is set to go into effect later this year. It is unclear whether the objections from Meta, TikTok, and Snap will lead to any changes in the law or its application to YouTube.