Tech leaders, including Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook and Instagram, as well as Snapchat and TikTok, are calling on Australia to reassess its decision to exempt YouTube, operated by Alphabet, from new legislation aimed at protecting children under 16 from social media access.
Australia’s parliament passed significant legislation in November that imposes some of the strictest social media regulations globally, compelling companies to prevent minors from logging in or face fines reaching AUD 49.5 million ($31 million or approximately Rs. 269 crore).
YouTube is poised to escape the regulations due to its classification as a vital educational resource, being the only platform permitted for children under parental supervision through a family account.
Meta has raised concerns, arguing that young users with YouTube accounts are still exposed to features the government highlighted as reasons for the ban, which include algorithmic content recommendations, social interaction aspects, and potential exposure to harmful material.
In a blog post on Wednesday, Meta stated, “YouTube’s exemption contradicts the stated rationale of the law, and we urge the government to apply the law consistently across all social media platforms.”
TikTok echoed these sentiments, expressing worries that the exemption for YouTube could lead to a law that is “illogical, anticompetitive, and shortsighted.” In its submission to the government, it called for uniformity in regulations for all social media platforms.
Snapchat, too, emphasized that no specific company should enjoy special status, asserting, “There must be a fair and impartial application of exclusions, and all services should be held to the same standard,” according to a submission made on Friday.
Experts specializing in mental health and extremism have indicated to Reuters that YouTube may expose children to addictive and dangerous content, noting that it hosts similar types of hazardous material found on other platforms.
YouTube has publicly stated that it is intensifying its moderation efforts and expanding its criteria for identifying harmful content through automated detection systems.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
