In a groundbreaking move, the Australian government has announced that YouTube will be included in its world-first social media ban for children under 16. This decision comes after the government reversed a prior exemption for the platform, marking a significant shift in its approach to protecting young people from online harm. The ban, which will also target platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat, is set to come into effect in December.
Under this new regulation, teenagers will still have access to YouTube’s videos, but they will be prohibited from creating accounts, which are necessary for uploading content and engaging with the platform. This measure aims to shield Australian children from the potential risks of social media, particularly those linked to harmful content and predatory algorithms.
YouTube, owned by Google, initially argued against being included in the ban, claiming that the platform offers significant benefits for younger Australians. “It’s not social media,” a spokesperson for YouTube said in a statement, arguing that YouTube provides value beyond the typical social networking experience. However, Australia’s laws, which have garnered global attention, seem to be gaining momentum, with countries like Norway following suit, and the UK expressing interest in adopting similar measures.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the significance of the ban in a media briefing on Wednesday. “Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs,” Albanese said. “We know that this is not the only solution, but it will make a difference.”
The decision to include YouTube in the ban follows a recommendation by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, who highlighted YouTube as the platform most frequently cited for exposing children aged 10 to 15 to harmful content. Inman Grant’s recommendation comes after extensive reviews of the online experiences of Australian youth.
A YouTube spokesperson responded to the decision, stating that the company would “consider next steps” and “continue to engage” with the Australian government to discuss the ban’s implementation. Last week, media outlets reported that Google had warned the government of potential legal action, arguing that such a ban could infringe upon political freedom.
Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells, however, made it clear that the government would not back down in the face of legal threats. “While there is a place for social media, there’s not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children,” Wells asserted. “This is a genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids,” she added, likening efforts to protect children from the dangers of the internet to “trying to teach your kids to swim in the open ocean with the rips and the sharks compared to at the local council pool.”
Wells also clarified that certain platforms would be excluded from the ban, including online gaming, messaging, education, and health apps. These services, she argued, “pose fewer social media harms to under 16s.”
In addition to banning underage accounts on platforms like YouTube, the new law allows for heavy penalties for tech companies that fail to comply with the age restrictions. Violators could face fines of up to A$50 million ($32.5 million; £25.7 million) and would be required to deactivate existing accounts, prohibit new account creation, and prevent workarounds. These fines also extend to correcting errors related to the enforcement of the age restrictions.
The new social media restrictions are expected to be further detailed in a presentation to the federal parliament on Wednesday. The debate surrounding the potential impact of this ban on children’s social media habits, as well as its effects on freedom of expression, is likely to continue as the December deadline approaches.
