Google has characterized Australia’s under-16 social media ban as “rushed regulation” implemented without adequate consideration of consequences or existing safety mechanisms. The criticism highlights tech industry concerns that legislative speed has prioritized political action over technical feasibility, comprehensive impact assessment, or consultation with companies that must implement the changes.
Rachel Lord from Google’s policy division argued the legislation was developed and passed too quickly to properly understand how it will affect families currently using account-based safety features. Parents rely on supervision tools to collaboratively manage their children’s YouTube usage, blocking inappropriate channels and monitoring viewing habits, but these capabilities will become unavailable when underage users are signed out on December 10.
Communications Minister Anika Wells has dismissed the rushed regulation criticism with direct language, calling YouTube’s concerns “outright weird” during her National Press Club address. Wells argued that platforms highlighting their own safety problems should focus on solving those issues rather than opposing protective legislation. She framed the ban as necessary intervention against companies that deliberately exploit teenage psychology through predatory algorithms.
ByteDance’s Lemon8 app demonstrates that even platforms not explicitly named in legislation feel regulatory pressure. The Instagram-style service announced voluntary over-16 restrictions from December 10 despite not being included in the original law. Lemon8 had experienced increased interest specifically because it avoided the initial ban, but eSafety Commissioner monitoring prompted proactive compliance.
The government has acknowledged implementation won’t be perfect immediately, with Wells conceding it may take days or weeks to fully materialize, but emphasized authorities remain committed to the goal. The eSafety Commissioner will collect compliance data beginning December 11 with monthly updates, while platforms face penalties up to 50 million dollars. The rushed regulation criticism raises questions about whether faster implementation serves children better than more deliberate approaches that might better balance access restriction with safety feature preservation, though Australia appears determined to proceed quickly despite industry arguments that additional time for planning and consultation could have produced more effective outcomes.