<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal government has warned social media giants it will not be "intimidated" by legal threats after announcing the final list of platforms captured in its landmark under-16 social media ban.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-youtube-included-in-federal-government-ban-for-under-16s/50da2a9d-21ce-44f8-8c40-1c90e165f92e" rel="" target="_blank" title="confirmed YouTube will not be exempt"><span>confirmed YouTube will not be exempt</span></a><span> from a national social media ban, naming the Google-owned brand alongside other age-restricted platforms Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and X.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The PM said today YouTube is an important inclusion and explained that some platforms, including online gaming and messaging apps, are exempt because they pose fewer harms to young people.</span></div></div><div class="vote" data-has-voted="false" data-question-id="8334d354-f7e8-4a57-a789-65784f03de07"><h2>Should YouTube be banned for under 16s?</h2><div class="vote__answer" data-id="0"><div class="vote__option" style="background-color:#008000"><input type="button" value="Yes"/></div></div><div class="vote__answer" data-id="1"><div class="vote__option" style="background-color:#008000"><input type="button" value="No"/></div></div><div class="vote__result"><div class="vote__result__text" style="color:#008000">Yes</div><div class="vote__result__bar-container"><span class="vote__result__bar" style="background-color:#008000;width:58%"></span><span class="vote__result__bar-text"></span></div><span class="vote__result__count">5422</span></div><div class="vote__result"><div class="vote__result__text" style="color:#008000">No</div><div class="vote__result__bar-container"><span class="vote__result__bar" style="background-color:#008000;width:42%"></span><span class="vote__result__bar-text"></span></div><span class="vote__result__count">3902</span></div><div class="vote__recaptcha" id="vote-recaptcha-8334d354-f7e8-4a57-a789-65784f03de07"></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/edgewater-park-crash-teen-accused-of-killing-perth-nurse-in-edirtbike-crash-fronts-court/590e34a6-42d9-4a30-ba92-6da24209330a" target="_blank"><strong><span>Parents have 'no control' of son accused of killing nurse with e-bike</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We want Australian parents and families to know that we have got your back. We know this is not the only solution and there's more to do. But it will make a difference," Albanese said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We know as well that there are those who will say 'young people will find their way around it'.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That's not a reason to stop the other laws that we put in place about alcohol consumption, or about purchasing of tobacco, or other areas where governments act to identify clearly what are the communities' expectations."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-federal-government-reveals-how-ban-will-work/ab8e8ed8-6c78-461f-900d-4c8b048f36e6" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Communications Minister Anika Wells said the government would not back down over legal threats sent from tech companies.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Google previously threatened to sue the Australian government if YouTube was roped into the ban.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We can't control the ocean but we can police the sharks and that is why we will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids," Wells said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There is no perfect solution when it comes to keeping young Australians safe online.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But the social media minimum age laws will make a meaningful difference."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wells also issued a direct message to the children of Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Kids who are watching on the news tonight, these laws are coming," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Your parents are telling the truth, we are banning social media."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Social media platforms listed in the legislation will be subject to the ban from December 10.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The social media giants face fines of up to $49.5 million if they "fail to take responsible steps to prevent underage account holders onto their services".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/new-york-city-gunman-who-killed-4-at-manhattan-office-building-was-targeting-nfl-headquarters-mayor-says/24a4712b-ee02-469a-9195-07edb9a12359" target="_blank"><strong><span>Gunman who killed four at Manhattan office building 'was targeting NFL headquarters'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-jeffrey-epstein-files-us-president-says-virginia-giuffre-was-stolen-from-mar-a-lago/e92fad6e-bd41-476b-af8b-3780d8ff547d" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump says Epstein 'stole' Virginia Giuffre from Mar-A-Lago spa</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a statement to 9news.com.au, a YouTube spokesperson said the platform would consider the next steps.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We share the government's goal of addressing and reducing online harms. Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It's not social media," the spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The government's announcement today reverses a clear, public commitment to exclude YouTube from this ban.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We will consider next steps and will continue to engage with the government."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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