Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat have launched a coordinated challenge against YouTube’s exemption from Australia’s upcoming social media ban for users under 16. 

The three tech companies submitted formal criticisms to the government consultation process, arguing that the exclusion creates an uneven regulatory terrain.

TikTok’s director of public policy in Australia and New Zealand, Ella Woods-Joyce, describes the situation in her company’s submission as “illogical,” comparing it to “banning the sale of soft drinks to minors but exempting Coca-Cola.”

The contentious legislation, passed in late 2024, requires social media platforms to “take reasonable steps to prevent” users under 16 from having accounts. The ban takes effect in December, though enforcement mechanisms remain undefined.

Research Highlights YouTube’s Market Position

The companies cite a February report from Australia’s eSafety Commission showing YouTube’s dominant position among young users. According to this research, YouTube ranks as the most popular service among children aged 13-15, with 73% of this demographic reporting YouTube use in 2024.

Meta points to this data in its statement, noting: “Given YouTube is the most popular social media service among young Australians, its exclusion from the ban law is in direct contradiction to the government’s stated intent.”

Similar Features Across Platforms

The tech firms argue that YouTube offers comparable functionality to their own services. TikTok specifically highlights that YouTube Shorts operates similarly to TikTok’s feed and Instagram’s story function, questioning why these similar features receive different regulatory treatment.

Meta emphasizes that “a young person with a YouTube account experiences the very features cited by the government to justify the law,” including algorithmic recommendations, autoplay, social interaction features, and notifications.

Snapchat, meanwhile, maintains its position that it should be classified as a messaging service that is exempt from the ban. However, it argues that if its “story” function subjects it to the rules, platforms with “equivalent” features should face identical requirements.

Australian Communications Minister Michelle Rowland previously explained that exemptions would apply to services including ReachOut’s PeerChat, Kids Helpline’s MyCircle, Google Classroom, YouTube, and other apps that demonstrate educational or health support purposes despite having interactive social media functionality.