YouTube to Adhere to Australia’s Teen โSocial Media Restrictions
Sydney, Australia – YouTube has announced it โwill comply with impending Australian legislation designed toโค restrict social media access for users underโ the age of 16, requiring parental consent for accountsโ created by children and teenagers. The โฃmove comes as Australia prepares to implement sweeping onlineโค safety measures aimed at protecting young people from harmful content and cyberbullying.
The new regulations,set to take effect later this year,will considerably alter howโ platforms like YouTube operate within the country. The legislation mandates that social media companies verify theโข agesโ of Australian users and obtain parental or guardian consent beforeโข collecting and using their personal details.Failure to comply could result in significant fines – up to AUD $2.75 million (approximately USD $1.8 million) per service, or 5% of global turnover, whichever is higher.
Australia’s eSafety โCommissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has been a driving forceโ behind the legislation, citing growing concerns about the negative impactsโ of social media on youth mental health and wellbeing. “These platforms have a obligation to protect children,” Grant stated previously. “This legislation ensures they do just that.”
YouTube confirmed its commitment to the new rules in a statement, outlining plans to โขimplement age verification systems and consent mechanisms. Theโ company did not detail the specific technologies it will employ, but indicated it โis indeed exploring various options, including third-party age verification services.
The legislation impacts a substantial portion of Australia’s population. According to Statista, approximately 78% of Australians agedโ 13-17 use YouTube, making it โone of the most popular social media platforms among this demographic. The changes will โrequire parents to actively participate in their children’s online experiences, potentially shifting the dynamics of digital accessโฃ and usage withinโ families.
Beyond YouTube, other โคmajor social media โplatforms, including Meta (Facebook and โคInstagram) and TikTok, are also preparing to adapt โto the new Australian regulations. The legislation is being closely watched internationally, as other countries grapple with similar concerns about online child safety and consider implementing comparable measures.
