Australia's New Social Media Regulations Target Under-16 Users as Platforms Like YouTube and Lemon8 Respond
Australia is enforcing a new social media ban targeting users under 16, with platforms like YouTube and the social app Lemon8 adjusting to the regulations ahead of the December 10 implementation date.
YouTube, owned by Google, announced it will comply by signing out underage users, which will disable safety features such as subscriptions, playlists, likes, and parental supervision capabilities. However, signed-out users will still be able to watch videos. Google expressed concerns that the laws may not make teens safer and could misunderstand children's internet usage, with an indication of possible legal challenges though without further elaboration.
Meanwhile, Lemon8, not initially included in the ban, will restrict access to users over 16 starting December 10. The app is being closely monitored by the eSafety Commissioner, who has taken proactive steps including writing directly to Lemon8. The eSafety Commissioner plans to gather information from all platforms about efforts to remove underage users starting December 11, with data collection to continue monthly. Non-compliance may result in penalties up to $50 million.
Government minister Anika Wells dismissed Google's warnings as "outright weird" and suggested the need for vigilance as children might migrate to non-listed platforms. She also hinted that Lemon8 and potentially LinkedIn could be targeted in future expansions of the ban.
Australian authorities are committed to swiftly curbing under-16 activity on social media, acknowledging that effective implementation may take days or weeks but promising ongoing efforts to protect young Australians online.
