Australia bans YouTube for children under 16

Australia is going to ban children under 16 from creating YouTube accounts starting December, expanding its world-first social media restrictions. The ban, which already applies to TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and X, now includes YouTube following recommendations from the eSafety Commissioner. The government reverse a position taken months ago on the popular video-sharing service. Exempt services include online gaming, messaging, education and health apps. They are excluded because they are considered less harmful to children. The age restrictions take effect Dec. 10 and platforms will face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for “failing to take responsible steps” to exclude underage account holders, a government statement said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia would campaign at a United Nations forum in New York in September for international support for banning children from social media. "Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs," Albanese said.

Protecting kids online means taking on some tough problems, so we’re banning social media accounts for under-16s.

The way these platforms are built can harm children while they’re still finding their own way.

No one knows this better than Mia, Rob and Emma, who have suffered… pic.twitter.com/Nia5EKZsaD

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 30, 2025

Communications Minister Anika Wells defended applying the restrictions to YouTube and said the government would not be intimidated by threats of legal action from the platform’s U.S. owner, Alphabet Inc. “The evidence cannot be ignored that four out of 10 Australian kids report that their most recent harm was on YouTube,” Wells told reporters, referring to government research. “We will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids.” Children will be able to access YouTube but will not be allowed to have their own YouTube accounts.
The minimum age is intended to address harmful impacts on children including addictive behaviors caused by persuasive or manipulative platform design features, social isolation, sleep interference, poor mental and physical health, low life-satisfaction and exposure to inappropriate and harmful content, government documents say.
YouTube - owned by Google - had argued it shouldn't be blocked for children as the platform "offers benefit and value to younger Australians": "It's not social media," it said in statement on Wednesday. Australia's laws are being watched with great interest by global leaders, with Norway announcing a similar ban and the UK saying it is considering following suit.Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant last month recommended YouTube be added to the ban as it was "the most frequently cited platform" where children aged 10 to 15 years saw "harmful content".