Australia will ban the youtube streaming video platform for under 16s to protect them from “Predatory algorithms”announced, Wednesday, July 30, the Minister of Communication, Anika Wells.
“There is a place for social networks, but there is no room for predatory algorithms targeting children”wrote mme Wells in a press release.
Two in five Australian children say they have viewed inappropriate content on the American platform, said the minister. Concretely, “Young people under the age of 16 will not be able to have an account on YouTube”described Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the press on Wednesday. “We want Australian families and parents to know that we support them”added the head of the Labor Government.
The Australian Parliament had already adopted in November 2024 a pioneering law in terms of internet regulation, prohibiting access to social networks, such as Tiktok, X or Facebook and Instagram, at under 16. The text, which benefited from bipartisan support, invoked similar reasons.
A turnaround regarding YouTube
However, the government had said that YouTube, which is widely used in school at school, would not be concerned. Canberra finally operated on a turnaround.
The platform “Is not a social network”reacted a spokesperson for this site on Wednesday, on Wednesday frequented in the world. “Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a free, high quality, more and more look at television screens”defended the streaming specialist.
The measure wanted by the government could only be symbolic, have warned of experts, few details that filtered as to the terms of its application to platforms, scheduled for December 10.
The targeted sites, which risk up to 49.5 million Australian fines (28 million euros) if they do not cooperate, qualified as « vague », ” problematic “ or “Precipitated” the government’s project. Tiktok accused the government of ignoring mental health experts, online security and young people, who oppose this measure.
