Australia’s plan to exempt YouTube from its new teen social media ban has sparked outrage from competitors like Meta and TikTok.

The landmark laws, set to go into effect by the end of 2025, aim to restrict access to social media for those under 16.

While Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok face heavy fines for non-compliance, the government has proposed an exemption for YouTube, allowing children to use it for educational purposes.

This move has raised eyebrows, with critics calling it unfair and illogical.

TikTok Criticizes the Exemption as Unfair

TikTok’s Australian policy director, Ella Woods-Joyce, was quick to criticize the proposed exemption, calling it a “sweetheart deal” for YouTube.

She argued that giving one social media platform special treatment while imposing strict regulations on others was both “anti-competitive” and “illogical.”

Woods-Joyce further stated that the government’s rationale for the exemption, citing YouTube’s unique educational value, didn’t hold up under scrutiny. She warned that this could strengthen Google’s market dominance, as YouTube is owned by the tech giant.

Meta Joins the Criticism

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, echoed similar concerns, arguing that the exemption undermines the very purpose of the ban.

Meta’s submission to the Australian government called the exemption a “mockery” of the intended protections for young people.

They pointed out that YouTube shares many of the same features and harmful content that led the government to propose the age ban in the first place.

Both Meta and TikTok contended that their video content is essentially the same as what YouTube offers, making the exemption unfair.

A Global First for Australia

While other countries, like France and China, have considered similar measures to regulate social media use among children, Australia’s impending ban stands out as one of the strictest in the world.

Under the new laws, companies that fail to comply with the ban could face fines of up to AUD 50 million (about R577 million).

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has framed social media as a harmful influence, citing its role in peer pressure, anxiety, scams, and online predators.

Questions Still Loom About Enforcement

Although the law has been passed, key questions remain about how it will be enforced.

As the deadline of December 2025 approaches, Australian officials still need to address fundamental issues, including how the ban will be policed and what qualifies as an educational use for YouTube.

The debate over the exemption has only added to the uncertainty surrounding the law’s implementation.