YouTube Exempted from Australia's Teen Social Media Ban

Australian Communications Minister Michelle Rowland personally assured YouTube’s global head that the platform would be exempt from Australia’s upcoming ban on social media for under-16s, according to documents obtained via freedom-of-information laws. This guarantee was given before any official consultation on which platforms would be covered by the ban. The exemption has sparked backlash from rival companies, including Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok, with TikTok calling it a 'sweetheart deal' that is anti-competitive and illogical. The lack of public discussion about the exemption during the federal election campaign has led to criticism that the government is avoiding scrutiny of the policy. The controversy highlights broader concerns about fairness and transparency in the rollout of Australia's social media restrictions.