Google claims 'respect for parents' as it cancels concert after YouTube added to Under 16 social media ban
Google cancelled a concert at Parliament House in the hours after the federal government added YouTube to its social media ban for under 16s.
A Wednesday night concert scheduled at Parliament House was cancelled at the last moment by Google, with the global search giant claiming it was "out of respect for grieving families."
The event cancellation came within 24 hours of Google's YouTube video streaming service being added to the federal government's social media ban for people aged under 16 years-old. It is understood that featured musical artist The Reubens were left to pack up their gear when the cancellation was announced, indicating just how late the cancellation came.
YouTube had previously been exempted from the ban, which is set to go into effect on 10 December this year, but Communications Minister Anika Wells opted to reverse that decision and add them to the list of banned social media services.
YouTube will join Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, and Snapchat in the ban. Google's YouTube Kids platform has been excluded from the ban.
Teens will still be able to access YouTube, however they will not be able to log-in to the service. This removes them from the social elements of the YouTube platform, along with the algorithmically-powered recommendation engine serving up recommended and relevant content for users based on prior viewing history.
In the letter obtained by the Sydney Morning Herald, Google advised that the cancellation was: “Out of respect for grieving families who have gathered in Parliament House today, we have decided to postpone the annual Google at Parliament House event.”
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The parents Google are referencing are Mia Bannister, Robb Evans, and Emma Mason. They appeared at a media event on Wednesday morning with the communications minister and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. At the event, Albanese revealed plans to visit New York to push world leaders on taking similar action.
“We will continue to advocate, this is our position, it is up to other nations what they do, but I know from the discussions I have had with other leaders, that they are looking at this,” Albanese said.
