Australia’s Social Media Ban for Under-16s—But Why Did YouTube Get a Free Pass?
So Australia wants to ban kids under 16 from social media. Fair enough, right? But here’s the kicker—YouTube somehow dodged the bullet. TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat? All on the chopping block. But YouTube? Nope. The government says it’s because of “educational value.” But let’s be real—that smells fishy to me.
What’s Actually in This Proposed Ban?
The idea is simple: protect kids from harmful content and creepy data mining. If you’re under 16, you’d need your parents’ permission to use most social platforms. And honestly? That makes sense. We’ve all seen how Instagram can mess with teenagers’ heads. But YouTube—which has just as much garbage as the others—gets to skate by. How does that work?
Here’s the thing—I get why they did it. YouTube has Khan Academy, science tutorials, all that good stuff. But come on. You think kids are only watching math videos? Please. The algorithm pushes them from “how to solve quadratic equations” to “why the moon landing was fake” in about three clicks.
The Nitty-Gritty Details:
- Platforms getting banned: Basically everything except YouTube (for now)
- Age rule: Under 16? Get mom or dad to sign off first
- Penalties: Big fines if companies don’t comply
The “Educational Loophole” Is Kinda Sketchy
Google lobbied hard for this exemption. And guess what? It worked. But here’s my problem—if we’re really worried about kids’ mental health, why is YouTube special? Sure, it’s got great learning content. But it’s also got conspiracy theories, dangerous challenges, and way too many weird corners.
Let me put it this way: banning TikTok but giving YouTube a pass is like locking the front door but leaving the back wide open.
People Are Calling BS on This
Other tech companies are furious—and I don’t blame them. TikTok’s Australian team straight-up called the exemption “random and unfair.” And parents? They’re divided. Some love YouTube for homework help. Others have seen their kids go down bizarre rabbit holes at 2 AM.
Oh, and get this—a recent poll showed most Australians think YouTube should be included in the ban. So why isn’t it? Makes you wonder who’s really pulling the strings here.
What Happens Next?
My guess? This isn’t over. The government might tweak the rules later—maybe force YouTube to use stricter age checks. Or they could just apply the same rules to everyone. Other countries are watching too. If Australia gets this right (or wrong), others might copy them.
Bottom Line: This Makes No Sense
Look, I’m all for protecting kids online. But this half-baked approach? It’s worse than nothing. Either make YouTube follow the same rules—maybe force it to use YouTube Kids for minors—or admit this whole thing is just for show.
Real talk: If we’re okay with kids watching conspiracy theories on YouTube but not dancing on TikTok, we’ve got our priorities backwards. Canberra, you need to fix this.
Source: Financial Times – Companies
