Australia to ban under-16s from YouTube
Communications Minister Anika Wells said four-in-ten Australian children had reported viewing harmful content on YouTube, one of the most visited websites in the world.
"We want kids to know who they are before platforms assume who they are," Wells said in a statement.
"There's a place for social media, but there's not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children."
Australia announced last year it was drafting laws that will ban children from social media sites such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram until they turn 16.
The government had previously indicated YouTube would be exempt, given its widespread use in classrooms.
"Young people under the age of 16 will not be able to have accounts on YouTube," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Wednesday.
"They will also not be able to have accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) among other platforms.
"We want Australian parents and families to know that we have got their back."
Albanese said the age limit may not be implemented perfectly -- much like existing restrictions on alcohol -- but it was still the right thing to do.
Not 'social media'
A spokesman for YouTube said Wednesday's announcement was a jarring U-turn from the government.
"Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens," the company said in a statement.
"It's not social media."
On paper, the ban is one of the strictest in the world.
But the current legislation offers almost no details on how the rules will be enforced -- prompting concern among experts that it will simply be a symbolic piece of unenforceable legislation.
It is due to come into effect on December 10.
Social media giants -- which face fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (US$32 million) for failing to comply -- have described the laws as "vague", "problematic" and "rushed".
TikTok has accused the government of ignoring mental health, online safety and youth experts who had opposed the ban.
Meta -- owner of Facebook and Instagram -- has warned that the ban could place "an onerous burden on parents and teens".
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Bangkok Post
17 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Losing the narrative
Since the border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia began and up until the recently brokered ceasefire, Thailand has struggled to present its position to the world. However, the joint press briefing by the Thai military and Foreign Ministry during a visit by military attachés to the conflict zone on Friday marked one of the most coherent and assertive efforts to communicate the facts on the ground. One of the key lessons from this conflict is the critical importance of proactive diplomacy and strategic communication with the international community. This responsibility lies squarely with the government, national leadership and the Foreign Ministry. Yet Cambodia has consistently outpaced Thailand in projecting its narrative, winning sympathy abroad, even as facts on the ground indicate otherwise. Evidence clearly shows that civilian areas, including schools, hospitals and entire communities, have been damaged by indiscriminate military attacks by Cambodian forces, and Thailand did not open fire on civilians nor historic sites. Even after a ceasefire was agreed, Cambodia violated the terms with continued shelling. Still, Thailand has failed to tell the world about the glaring violation of the Geneva Convention Additional Protocol I (1977) and customary international humanitarian law. Comments by Sean O'Neill, nominee for US ambassador to Thailand, underscored the perception gap Thailand faces internationally. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Mr O'Neill criticised the border conflict as harmful and counterproductive, saying it neither benefits Thais nor strengthens the US-Thailand alliance, but instead results in unnecessary loss and hardship. That message did not reflect an understanding of Thailand's defensive position or the complexities of the situation. Similarly, statements from China have not helped improve Thailand's standing in the eyes of the global community. The underlying problem is Thailand's passive diplomatic posture and weak communication campaign. The government has spent each day fending off Cambodian accusations, many of which are distorted or false, without clearly asserting Thailand's own narrative. As Cambodian strongman Hun Sen eloquently pushes his narratives on the global stage, Thailand's leadership is out of sight, and Thai netizens and social media influencers fill the gap. Domestically, the government faces a crisis of confidence. A recent leak of an audio clip featuring Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Hun Sen has deepened public mistrust. A poll by Rangsit University shows that over 60% of Thais have no confidence in the prime minister's ability to manage the Thai-Cambodian conflict, while only 1% expressed strong confidence. Similarly, a survey by the Institute of Future Studies for Development found 85.5% of respondents had little or no trust in the government. In contrast, a poll by the Asia Vision Institute in Phnom Penh found that 93.6% of Cambodians were satisfied with their government's handling of the situation. The Friday briefing to foreign military attachés was direct, well-documented and addressed Cambodia's allegations point by point. Unfortunately, it came late. No matter how justified Thailand's actions may be, if the world remains unaware, Thailand will continue to lose ground in international diplomacy. A new era of proactive, strategic diplomacy must begin now. Since the outbreak of border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, up until the recently brokered ceasefire, Thailand has struggled to effectively present its position to the world. However, the joint press briefing by the Thai military and Foreign Ministry during a visit by military attachés to the conflict zone on Friday marked one of the most coherent and assertive efforts to communicate the facts on the ground. One of the key lessons from this border conflict is the critical importance of proactive diplomacy and strategic communication with the international community. This responsibility lies squarely with the government, national leadership, and the Foreign Ministry. Yet, Cambodia has consistently outpaced Thailand in projecting its narrative, winning sympathy abroad, even as facts on the ground indicate otherwise. Evidence clearly shows that c ivilian areas, including schools, hospitals, and entire communities, have suffered indiscriminate attacks by Cambodian forces and Thailand did not open fires. Even after a ceasefire was agreed, Cambodia reportedly violated the terms with continued shelling. Still, Thailand has failed to turn these facts into international awareness and support. Comments by Sean O'Neill, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to Thailand, underscored the perception gap Thailand faces internationally. During his Senate confirmation hearing, O'Neill criticised the border conflict as harmful and counterproductive, saying it neither benefits the Thai people nor strengthens the US-Thailand alliance, but instead results in unnecessary loss and hardship. That message did not reflect an understanding of Thailand's defensive position or the complexities of the situation. Similarly, statements from China have not helped improve Thailand's standing in the eyes of the global community. The underlying problem is Thailand's passive diplomatic posture. The government has spent each day fending off Cambodian accusations, many of which are distorted or false, without clearly asserting Thailand's own narrative. The leadership has remained largely absent from global discourse. In the resulting vacuum, Thai netizens and social media influencers have stepped in to share the truth with the world. Domestically, the government faces a crisis of confidence. A recent leak of an audio clip featuring Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen has deepened public mistrust. A poll conducted by Rangsit University shows that over 60% of Thais have no confidence in the prime minister's ability to manage the Thai-Cambodian conflict, while only 1% expressed strong confidence. Similarly, a survey by the Institute of Future Studies for Development found that 85.59% of respondents had little or no trust in the current government. In contrast, a poll by the Asia Vision Institute in Phnom Penh found that 93.6% of Cambodians were satisfied with their government's handling of the situation. The Friday briefing to foreign military attachés was a rare moment when Thailand presented its side with clarity and conviction. It was direct, well-documented, and addressed Cambodia's allegations point by point. Unfortunately, it came late. The global narrative had already taken shape, influenced by early and sustained Cambodian messaging. Thailand must learn from this experience. In a world where communication moves at the speed of social media and perception often overrides fact, even the truth needs a strategy. No matter how justified Thailand's actions may be, if the world remains unaware, Thailand will continue to lose ground in international diplomacy, especially in conflicts with smaller, seemingly less powerful nations like Cambodia. A new era of proactive, strategic diplomacy must begin now.
Bangkok Post
17 hours ago
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Dollar at risk of being left behind
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Even though China faces challenges, such as its fight against deflation, its efforts on this front -- namely, boosting consumption and reining in excess supply, especially in the renewable energy space across solar, wind and batteries -- could ultimately help attract more foreign capital by boosting China's growth profile and corporate earnings. There is obviously no guarantee that these measures will be successful, but the government's intense focus on achieving these goals is evident. The recent decision to provide $12.4 billion in childcare subsidies suggests a potential policy Rubicon has been crossed, as China has typically resisted these types of direct fiscal stimulus measures in the past. In a world of currency blocs, both Europe and Asia could emerge as potential winners, as they erode the US's position as the world's financial powerhouse. So while many investors may get lost in the short-term currency noise, it might be wise to instead focus on the long-term signal. Reuters
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Bangkok Post
US tariff opens 'opportunity' to reorient economy
An economist is urging the government to adopt a three-phase strategy to cushion the impact of the newly-imposed 19% US tariff, warning that while the immediate effect may not be catastrophic, the move exposes deeper structural vulnerabilities. Asst Prof Kiatanantha Lounkaew, of Thammasat University's Faculty of Economics, said on Saturday the tariff, which came into effect on Friday, should not only be seen as a threat but as an opportunity to reorient the economy for long-term resilience. He proposed a phased response to mitigate shocks and drive structural reform. In the short term (0–6 months), he recommended a relief fund be set up by the Finance Ministry and Board of Investment to offer low-interest loans and liquidity support to affected exporters, particularly SMEs. Temporary tax relief and tariff cuts on essential raw materials should also be considered, along with aggressive market diversification into regions such as India, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, he said. The medium-term plan (6–18 months) should focus on restructuring supply chains, reducing foreign dependency and promoting industries aligned with sustainability goals, he said. New investment incentives must align with global standards like ESG criteria and carbon border taxes, he added. He also stressed the need for workforce upskilling and the integration of digital tools like AI and big data. In the long run (1.5–5 years), Thailand must shift from being a low-cost manufacturing base to a regional hub for high-value services and innovation, he said. This requires robust investment in R&D, patent development and upstream technologies, he added. Asst Prof Kiatanantha also proposed the formation of a Thai-US economic dialogue platform and active engagement in multilateral forums to avoid future trade frictions.
