CANBERRA, Australia – Australia has formally included YouTube in its sweeping social media ban for children under 16, marking a significant escalation in the country’s crackdown on online platforms seen to harm young users.
The move, announced Wednesday by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, reverses an earlier decision to exempt the video-sharing giant from the ban that already targets platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat. The restrictions will take effect in December.
“YouTube is not off the hook,” Albanese said. “Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.”
Under the new rules, teenagers will still be allowed to view YouTube content without signing in.
However, they will be barred from creating accounts, uploading videos, commenting, or engaging with content — features that require a registered account.
Tech companies that fail to comply with the restrictions face penalties of up to A$50 million (US$32.5 million).
YouTube Pushback Falls Flat
Owned by Google, YouTube had lobbied against its inclusion in the ban, arguing it does not function like traditional social media.
“YouTube offers benefit and value to younger Australians,” a spokesperson said Wednesday. “It’s not social media.”
But that distinction was dismissed by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, who noted that YouTube is the most frequently cited platform where children aged 10 to 15 report encountering harmful content.
Her office formally recommended its inclusion in the ban last month.
Reports last week suggested Google had considered legal action to prevent YouTube from being added to the list, citing concerns over political freedom. However, the government remained unmoved.
“We will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids,” said Communications Minister Anika Wells. “There is a place for social media, but there’s not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children.”
Wells likened parenting in the digital age to “teaching your kids to swim in the open ocean with rips and sharks” and said the new legislation is an attempt to “police the sharks.”
A Global Test Case
Australia’s social media age restrictions are being closely watched by other nations.
Norway has already announced a similar plan, and the UK has confirmed it is considering adopting the same approach.
Exemptions to Australia’s ban will include platforms used for online gaming, health, education, and messaging, which officials say pose less risk to young users.
More details about enforcement and implementation of the law will be presented to Parliament later Wednesday.
Companies will be required to deactivate existing underage accounts, block new sign-ups, and fix any workarounds or errors in their systems.
YouTube said it would “consider next steps” and continue engaging with the government following the announcement.
The policy is part of a broader effort by the Albanese government to regulate big tech and address growing concerns over youth mental health, cyberbullying, and online exploitation.
