The Australian government has announced that YouTube will be included in the world’s first law to ban social media for teenagers, reversing an earlier decision to exclude the Alphabet (GOOGLE)-owned platform. The move could spark legal battles.
The decision comes after the internet regulator last month urged the government to reconsider its exclusion of YouTube. It said a survey found that 37% of minors had reported harmful content on the platform, the highest rate among social media platforms.
“I’m putting an end to this,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, stressing that online platforms were hurting Australian children. He reminded social media companies of their social responsibility.
“I want Australian parents to know that we stand with them,” he added.
