Towards the end of last year, the Australian government enacted a law that prohibits individuals under the age of 16 from using social media. However, some major tech companies, including Meta, TikTok, and Snap, have expressed dissatisfaction with an exception made for YouTube. The Australian government has classified YouTube as an essential educational tool, permitting its use despite initial expectations that it would be subject to the same restrictions, as Reuters and The Guardian report.

This development comes after the release of a report by the Australian eSafety Commissioner last month, which revealed that YouTube is the most widely used platform among 13 to 15-year-olds, with nearly three-quarters of this age group using the platform in 2024. Notably, individuals under 16 must be part of a family account with parental supervision rights to use YouTube.

Big tech companies have responded with strong statements. Ella Woods-Joyce, TikTok’s director of public policy in Australia and New Zealand, remarked, “It is illogical to restrict two platforms while exempting the third. This would be equivalent to prohibiting the sale of soft drinks to minors while exempting Coca-Cola.” Meanwhile, Meta criticized the Australian government for lacking transparency and making “a mockery of the government’s stated intention, when passing the age ban law, to protect young people.”

Snap has echoed the concerns of its fellow platforms, stating, “There must be a fair and impartial application of exclusions, and all services should be held to the same standard.” Simultaneously, Snap is arguing that it should be exempt from the ban as it is a messaging service.

Australia’s ban on social media for individuals under 16 is expected to come into effect later this year. Only time will tell whether the outrage from big tech will have any impact on YouTube’s exemption.