YouTube will comply with the federal government’s under-16 social media ban, but its parent company Google has warned that the laws “will not keep teens safe online” and “fundamentally misunderstands” how children use the internet.
Guardian Australia can also reveal that Lemon8, a new social media app that has seen increased interest recently because it is not included in the ban, will limit its users to those over the age of 16 from next week. The eSafety Commission previously warned that it was closely monitoring the app for possible inclusion in the ban.
Ahead of Communications Minister Anika Wells’ address at the National Press Club on Wednesday, Google said it would start signing out underage users from its platforms from December 10, but warned it would mean children and their parents would lose access to safety features.
While initially exempt from this framework, Google strongly opposed the inclusion of YouTube in the ban. Google had raised the possibility of launching a legal challenge to the ban, but Wednesday’s statement did not elaborate on that potential and Google sources declined to comment.
Rachel Lord, Google’s senior manager for public policy in Australia, said in a blog post that users under 16 will still be able to watch YouTube videos in a signed-out state, but kids will “lose access to features that only work when you’re signed in to an account, including subscriptions, playlists and likes, and default well-being settings like “Take a break” and bedtime reminders.
They also warned that parents would “lose the ability to monitor their teen’s or children’s account on YouTube”, such as through content settings that block specific channels.
Lord wrote: “This rushed regulation misunderstands our platform and the way young Australians use it. Most importantly, this legislation will not deliver on its promise to make children safer online, and will, in fact, make Australian children less safe on YouTube.”
While noting any legal options, Lord said: “We are committed to finding a better way to keep children safe online.”
In her speech at the Press Club, Wales will admit that the government’s plan to ban under-16s from social media could take “days or weeks” to properly take effect, and will not work perfectly from day one.
Wales said the government was committed to banning social media and stressed that platforms that allowed children to be online after next Wednesday would be breaking the law.
Wells will say, “We know it won’t be perfect from day one, but we won’t give up – and we won’t let the platform deteriorate.”
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Meta has told users of Facebook, Instagram and Threads, like Snapchat, what to expect from next week. A Reddit spokesperson said the company had no update to share when contacted by Guardian Australia on Tuesday, while X, TikTok, YouTube and Kik also have not publicly confirmed how they will comply with the law and did not respond to questions.
Platforms that don’t take steps to remove users under the age of 16 risk fines of up to $50 million. The coalition has raised concerns about the timing and implementation of the ban, raising questions about how the age verification system will operate, and at least one legal challenge is underway.
The government has said it is worthwhile to send signals to parents and children about not using social media, even if some children avoid the net.
Wells would say it would take some time for tech companies to be threatened with a $50 million fine, explaining that the eSafety Commission will seek information from platforms on December 11 about their efforts to purge underage users. After this it will ask for monthly data.
At a press conference in Adelaide on Tuesday, Wales foreshadowed more platforms would be added to the under-16 ban if children moved to sites not currently listed.
He told media to “stay tuned” for news about Lemon8, an Instagram-style app not included in the ban. Guardian Australia understands the eSafety Commission has written to TikTok’s parent company, Lemon8 – owned by ByteDance – to say the agency will monitor the platform for potential inclusion once the scheme is launched.
Guardian Australia can reveal that Lemon8 has decided to restrict its users to those over the age of 16 from December 10.
“If everyone gets on LinkedIn, and LinkedIn becomes a place where online bullying happens, where algorithms target 13- to 16-year-olds in a way that is damaging their mental and physical health, then we will go after LinkedIn,” Wells said Tuesday.
“That’s why all platforms are on notice. We have to be agile and dynamic.”
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