Australia adds YouTube to list of banned social media for under-16s

International news correspondent Adam Gilchrist joins 702’s Bongani Bingwa for the World View.

Listen below:

Australia has become the first country in the world to ban social media for anyone under the age of 16.

The country had previously planned to exempt YouTube from the ban - which includes TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Snapchat - but has changed its mind.

Under the ban, teenagers will be able to watch YouTube videos but cannot have an account, which is required to upload content or interact on the platform.

“YouTube is often seen as innocuous, you can watch all sorts of stuff there... but obviously there is stuff our children need to be protected from as well.”

- Adam Gilchrist, International News Correspondent

If the companies do not comply with age restrictions, they face fines of up to A$50million (over R581million).

YouTube has argued that it should not be included in the ban as it is not social media, according to BBC.

RELATED: LISTEN: Should government impose social media age limits for kids?

The ban is set to come into effect in December.

The plan to ban social media is spreading, with Norway announcing similar rules and the UK saying it is considering doing the same.

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