Labor nears call on removing YouTube's carveout from teen social media ban
Communications Minister Anika Wells is expected to announce a decision to walk back promises to exempt YouTube from its social media age restrictions within the fortnight.
Federal Labor is putting the finishing touches on a plan that is expected to remove YouTube's controversial exemption from world first social media age restrictions following advice from the online safety regulator.
Communications Minister Anika Wells is preparing to release draft rules within the next fortnight, during which Parliament is sitting, setting out how different platforms will be treated by the new legislation, which is set to capture Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, as well as TikTok.
The draft rules are expected to see YouTube subjected to the same restrictions as other platforms, according to people briefed on the discussions, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private discussions. Platforms could be eligible to apply for exemptions under the plan, said one of the people.
The decision, should it be announced as expected, would represent a reversal on earlier commitments made by former communications minister Michelle Rowland to offer the Google-owned platform a controversial carveout on educational grounds.
