Opposition education spokesman Jonathon Duniam has taken interest in the Albanese government’s decision to include YouTube in the online platforms captured by the looming social media ban for children under 16, a reversal on its earlier plan to exclude the Google-owned video streaming website from the restriction.
Further details about the ban, due to begin on December 10, are expected to be tabled in parliament later today, after legislation to enable the restriction, designed to protect child safety, were passed with bipartisan support last year.
Liberal senator Jonathon Duniam.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“As a parent of three young men who probably spend too much time on social media, I certainly welcome any attempt to try and manage that,” Duniam said.
“This was not originally included the government’s plans, so I will be interested to see the regulations when they are handed down, and hear the justification for the inclusion.”
YouTube’s inclusion in the ban will firm ground for a legal stoush after Google threatened to sue if it wasn’t offered an exemption. Anthony Albanese dismissed the legal threat on Sunday, telling ABC Insiders that his government wouldn’t be influenced by threats issued by social media companies.
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