Back in December, Australia passed a landmark law that banned social media for everyone under 16 years old. The law demands that tech companies prevent minors from accessing their platforms. If they don’t, they face fines of up to AU$49.5 million ($31 million).
Needless to say, Meta, TikTok, and Snap weren’t too happy about the Australian social media ban. And now, they’re taking action. These companies are urging the Australian government to include YouTube in their blanket ban.
As reported by The Guardian, YouTube is currently exempt from this law because the government considers it an educational tool. This means that, under this law, under-16s will be able to use YouTube provided they’re part of a family account with parental supervision rights.
However, Meta, TikTok, and Snap cited this exemption as “illogical” in a submission to the government’s consultation on the ban.
What Have the Big Tech Companies Said?
In a blog post cited by Reuters, Meta said that YouTube’s exemption is “at odds” with the very reason for these laws. The tech giant also said it makes “a mockery of the government’s stated intention, when passing the age ban law, to protect young people.”
According to The Guardian, Ella Woods-Joyce, TikTok’s director of public policy in Australia and New Zealand, “it is illogical to restrict two platforms while exempting the third. It would be akin to banning the sale of soft drinks to minors but exempting Coca-Cola.”
Similarly, Snap stated that “the exclusion rule for messaging services must apply a fair and impartial standard that applies equally across all messaging services.”
With the law due to come into effect by the end of the year, there’s plenty of time for the Australian government to take this feedback on board. However, whether they actually will is another question entirely.
