What's happened
TikTok has condemned Australia's proposed regulation banning under-16s from most social media, claiming it unfairly exempts YouTube. The platform argues this creates an anti-competitive environment, undermining the government's intent to protect young users. The law is set to take effect by December 2025.
What's behind the headline?
Key Points:
- Regulatory Landscape: Australia's proposed ban on under-16s using social media is among the strictest globally, aiming to protect youth from online dangers.
- Exemption Controversy: TikTok's criticism centers on the exemption for YouTube, which it labels a 'sweetheart deal.' This raises questions about fairness and competition in the digital space.
- Market Dynamics: The exemption could entrench Google's dominance in the market, as TikTok and Meta argue that their content is similar to YouTube's, yet they face stricter regulations.
- Future Implications: If the law is enforced as planned, it may lead to significant shifts in how social media platforms operate in Australia, potentially influencing similar regulations worldwide.
What the papers say
According to Angus Whitley from The Japan Times, TikTok expressed disdain for the Australian government's exemption of YouTube from the new regulations, calling it 'illogical, anti-competitive and shortsighted.' Similarly, the South China Morning Post reported that TikTok's Australian policy director, Ella Woods-Joyce, emphasized that the exemption undermines the government's stated goal of protecting young people. Meta echoed these sentiments, arguing that the exemption contradicts the rationale behind the age ban. This highlights a growing tension between regulatory intentions and market realities.
How we got here
In 2023, Australia announced laws to ban under-16s from social media, with an exemption for YouTube. TikTok and Meta have criticized this exemption, arguing it gives YouTube an unfair advantage and contradicts the government's protective intentions.
Go deeper
- What are the implications of the social media ban?
- How does this affect TikTok's operations in Australia?
- What are other countries doing about social media regulations?
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More on these topics
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TikTok/Douyin is a Chinese video-sharing social networking service owned by ByteDance, a Beijing-based Internet technology company founded in 2012 by Zhang Yiming.
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YouTube is an American online video-sharing platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. Three former PayPal employees—Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim—created the service in February 2005.
