Meta has hit back at the Australian Government’s decision to exempt YouTube from its new social media ban for under-16s, calling it unfair and inconsistent. The tech giant, which owns Facebook and Instagram, says the government’s secretive consultation process has undermined proper debate and transparency.
A Meta spokesperson told Mediaweek, “We are concerned the government’s rapid, closed-door consultation process on the minimum age law is undermining necessary discourse. The government has proposed that YouTube be exempt from the law, despite its own research showing YouTube is the most popular social media service for under 16-year-olds in Australia.”
Meta demands a level playing field
Under the Online Safety Act (Social Media Age Limits) 2024, social media platforms must stop under-16s from creating or maintaining accounts, or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($31 million). But YouTube has been given a free pass on the grounds that it provides educational content, something Meta and other platforms argue makes no sense.
Meta isn’t holding back. In a blog post, the company pointed out that YouTube has all the same features the government has used to justify the ban, algorithmic recommendations, autoplay, social interaction tools, and notifications.
“A young person with a YouTube account experiences the very features cited by the government to justify the law… YouTube’s exemption is at odds with the purported reasons for the law, and we call on the government to ensure equal application across all social media services.”
Tech giants unite against ‘irrational’ decision
Meta isn’t alone in its frustration. TikTok has slammed the move, calling it “illogical, anticompetitive, and short-sighted” in a submission to the government, even likening it to “banning the sale of soft drinks to minors but exempting Coca-Cola.” Snapchat weighed in too, saying no single company should get special treatment and that the law should be “fair and impartial.”
The platforms claim the government has given YouTube a “sweetheart deal” and reverse-engineered its rationale to justify the decision. TikTok’s statement suggested the government started with the assumption that YouTube must be exempt and then “attempted, half-heartedly, to reverse-engineer defensible supporting evidence.”
Concerns over harmful content and enforcement
Experts in online safety and mental health have also questioned why YouTube is being let off the hook, with research showing that the platform exposes young users to harmful content, from misinformation to extremist material and addictive short-form videos. A February report from the eSafety Commission Behind the Screen found that YouTube was the most popular platform among children aged 13 to 15, with 73% of that age group using it in 2024.
The report also found that YouTube is the most-used service by under-13s in Australia, with nearly 12.9% of 8- to 12-year-olds surveyed reporting that they had their own account.
Dr. Grace Hancock, a clinical psychologist, has emphasised the need for protective measures for children online, advocating for devices that enable safe monitoring of phone use to safeguard children’s online experiences.
Experts from the University of Sydney argue that while exempting YouTube from the ban acknowledges its educational value, the platform should still adhere to the highest safety standards under Australia’s Online Safety Act.
Meanwhile, confusion remains over how the ban will actually be enforced. The government is trialling an age-verification system, but details are scarce, and privacy concerns linger over whether Australians will have to provide additional personal data to comply with the new rules.
What YouTube and the government say
YouTube is standing its ground, arguing that it provides valuable educational content and has strong parental controls in place. It also says its moderation systems are becoming more robust.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland previously stated that exemptions would be given to services that serve a “significant purpose to enable young people to get the education and health support they need”, including Google Classroom, ReachOut’s PeerChat, and Kids Helpline’s MyCircle. However, critics argue that YouTube’s primary function is entertainment, not education.
So far, the Australian Government hasn’t publicly responded to Meta’s criticism or explained why YouTube is getting special treatment. With the law set to take effect by December 2025, social media companies are under pressure to make changes, while the government is under growing scrutiny to ensure the rules are applied fairly across the board.