Australia will introduce a ban on children under the age of 16 accessing the video platform YouTube as part of groundbreaking legislation aimed at regulating social media. Communications Minister Anika Wells announced the move, emphasizing the need to protect young people from "predatory algorithms," AFP reported.

“We want kids to figure out who they are before platforms start telling them who they should be,” Wells said in an official statement. “Social media has its place, but there is no place for predatory algorithms targeting children,” she added.

Last year, Australia announced plans to draft legislation banning children under 16 from accessing social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. Initially, the government indicated that YouTube would be exempt from the rule due to its widespread use in the education system.

A YouTube spokesperson — representing one of the world’s most popular platforms — described the new decision as a sharp shift in the government's position.

“Our stance remains clear: YouTube is a video-sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality videos that is increasingly watched on television screens,” the company said in a statement. “It is not a social network.” | BGNES