Video-sharing platform YouTube has warned that Australia’s plan to ban children under 16 from using social media platforms is “well intentioned” but will not make them safer online.
Gatekeepers News reports that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last year announced landmark legislation that would prohibit under-16s from accessing social media by the end of 2025, with platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube facing hefty fines for non-compliance.
Speaking before a Senate committee on Monday, YouTube’s local spokeswoman Rachel Lord said the proposal could have “unintended consequences” and would be “extremely difficult to enforce.”
“The legislation will not only be extremely difficult to enforce, it also does not fulfil its promise of making kids safer online,” Lord said.
“Well-crafted legislation can be an effective tool to build on industry efforts to keep children and teens safer online, but the solution to keeping kids safer online is not stopping them from being online.”
Lord further argued that YouTube should not be included in the ban, saying the company is “not a social media service” and should therefore be “out of scope of this legislation.”
Australia has positioned itself as a global leader in online safety reform, but critics note that the current legislation provides little detail on how the ban will be enforced.
Experts have expressed concern that the policy could be largely symbolic, while several tech companies have criticised the draft laws as “vague,” “problematic,” and “rushed.”
Under the proposal, the eSafety Commissioner would have the authority to fine social media platforms up to A$49.5 million (US$32 million) for breaches.
In September, the government clarified that companies will not be required to verify the ages of all users but must take “reasonable steps” to detect and remove underage accounts.
