The Australian federal government is facing a backlash from media owners after its decision to exempt YouTube from a proposed ban on social media for under-16s.
The Google-owned video sharing platform was widely expected to be included in the ban, but last-minute lobbying won it a reprieve. This, however, has brought criticism from platforms that are covered – such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
In the company’s submission to the government about the planned ban, TikTok’s director of public policy in Australia and New Zealand Ella Woods-Joyce (pictured) summed up the mood when she said the government’s decision is “illogical. It would be akin to banning the sale of soft drinks to minors but exempting Coca-Cola.”
Calling YouTube’s exemption a “sweetheart deal”, TikTok said that “carving out any major platform by name from the minimum age obligation would result in a law that is illogical, anti-competitive, and short-sighted”.
Australia’s communications minister Michelle Rowland introduced the planned legislation, coining the new term “age-restricted social media platforms”. Alongside the above-named platforms, Reddit would also be restricted.
While the underlying intention of the new rules is positive, it’s not clear yet how the government plans to enforce such a widespread ban. Already, it has been noted that there will need to be exceptions to the regulations. For example, “the landing page of a business or service that uses social media” would be able to be viewed.
