In a move that has surely sent a few executives running for their fainting couches, Australia has gone back on its promise to exclude YouTube from its upcoming social media ban for children under 16. The government’s decision, which takes effect in December, puts the video platform on the same playing field as rivals like Facebook and TikTok, which will all be held responsible for preventing underage accounts.
The ban puts the onus on social media companies to police their user base or face fines of up to nearly £26 million. It’s a significant move in the world of internet safety, and it’s one that has earned a swift response from YouTube, which promptly declared the government’s decision a reversal of a “clear, public commitment.” It seems the Wiggles, Australia’s much loved children’s entertainment group, were even sent in as a last ditch lobbying effort to save the day, but to no avail.
The country’s Communications Minister, Anika Wells, wasn’t pulling any punches, comparing the ban to teaching children to swim in a local pool, rather than the “open ocean with the rip currents and the sharks.” It’s a bold analogy that frames the entire social media landscape as a bit of a hazard, and it’s clear she’s not about to back down, even in the face of legal threats.
The ban was prompted by a survey from Australia’s online regulator, the eSafety Commission, which found that over a third of children had seen harmful content on the site. And what counts as harmful? Everything from sexist ideas and dangerous online challenges to videos that encourage unhealthy eating habits.
Of course, the whole idea of an age verification ban is not without its own unique set of problems. A preliminary government report found that while age verification can be done privately and effectively, there is no one size fits all solution that is 100% foolproof. There are also concerns that some companies are collecting far more personal data than is necessary for future investigations, a move that could lead to even more privacy risks.
The minister herself has acknowledged the ban won’t be a silver bullet, quipping that kids are probably going to find a way around it and just “swarm on LinkedIn.” But even if that proves to be the case, at least they’ll be developing a professional network, right?
