Sydney (AFP) – Australia will use landmark social media laws to ban children under 16 from video-streaming site YouTube, a top minister said Wednesday stressing the need to shield them from "predatory algorithms".
Communications Minister Anika Wells said four-in-ten Australian children had reported viewing harmful content on YouTube, one of the most visited websites in the world.
"We want kids to know who they are before platforms assume who they are," Wells said in a statement.
"There's a place for social media, but there's not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children."
Australia announced last year it was drafting laws that will ban children from social media sites such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram until they turn 16.
The government had previously indicated YouTube would be exempt, given its widespread use in classrooms.
"Young people under the age of 16 will not be able to have accounts on YouTube," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Wednesday.
"They will also not be able to have accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X among other platforms.
"We want Australian parents and families to know that we have got their back."
Albanese said the age limit may not be implemented perfectly -- much like existing restrictions on alcohol -- but it was still the right thing to do.
A spokesman for YouTube said Wednesday's announcement was a jarring U-turn from the government.
"Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens," the company said in a statement.
"It's not social media."
On paper, the ban is one of the strictest in the world.
But the current legislation offers almost no details on how the rules will be enforced -- prompting concern among experts that it will simply be a symbolic piece of unenforceable legislation.
It is due to come into effect on December 10.
Social media giants -- which face fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (US$32 million) for failing to comply -- have described the laws as "vague", "problematic" and "rushed".
TikTok has accused the government of ignoring mental health, online safety and youth experts who had opposed the ban.
Meta -- owner of Facebook and Instagram -- has warned that the ban could place "an onerous burden on parents and teens".
The legislation has been closely monitored by other countries, with many weighing whether to implement similar bans.
So instead of adressing the algorithms we will collect information about everyone (including children) and violate their privacy instead. Makes perfect sense...
As a parent of young kids....youtube is a complicated mess.
It is full of really great content; but YT kids sucks...so if you want access to the good stuff it is standard YT.
But the utter shit that shows up in the side bar and suggested videos is insane.
For older teens/adults; you don't have to worry about the shit tier garbage that is suggested.
I block the ads, but that is a whole other level of cringe/inappropriate content that just gets shoved into videos; completely unrelated to what is on.
You can use uBlock Origin to block the recommended section or another player like FreeTube which allows you to disable that section entirely.
FreeTube also offers Hide Videos and Playlists Containing Text feature in addition to general channel blocking. That should help tailoring content to kids where YouTube fails.
uBlock is my go to for killing the ads.
I'll look into freetube, my 9yo has some cool interests but YT wants to drive engagement through whatever means necessary.