Australia has announced a major decision to ban children under the age of 16 from having social media accounts, and YouTube has now been officially added to the list of affected platforms. The new rule, which will take effect in December 2025, will also apply to other popular platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and X (formerly Twitter).
The move is part of what the Australian government is calling a “world-first” effort to protect children from online harm. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the aim is to support parents and reduce the risks that come with children using social media. “Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs,” he said while addressing the media on Wednesday, 30 July.
Teenagers will still be able to watch YouTube videos without signing in, but they will no longer be allowed to own accounts on the platform. This means they won’t be able to upload videos, post comments, or interact with content in other ways. The same restriction will apply to all social platforms under the ban.
YouTube, which is owned by tech giant Google, had earlier argued that it should be exempted from the ban. The company said its platform provided educational and entertainment value to children and did not consider itself a social media service. In a statement on Wednesday, YouTube said it was disappointed with the decision and would “consider next steps” while continuing discussions with the government.
Reports from last week suggested that Google had threatened legal action against the Australian government if YouTube was included in the ban, claiming that the law would affect political freedom. However, officials remained firm.
Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells said the government would not be intimidated by lawsuits. She compared protecting children online to teaching them how to swim. “Trying to protect kids on the internet is like trying to teach your kids to swim in the open ocean with rips and sharks — compared to doing it at the local pool,” she said. “We can’t control the ocean, but we can police the sharks.”
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, had last month advised that YouTube be added to the list of banned platforms. She said it was the “most frequently cited” platform where children aged 10 to 15 years encountered harmful content.
The law will allow children to continue using online tools such as educational apps, health platforms, online messaging services, and gaming platforms. These services, according to Minister Wells, “pose fewer social harms to under-16s.”
Under the ban, tech companies will be forced to take down existing underage accounts and stop new ones from being created. They will also need to block workarounds, and if they fail to comply, they could face heavy penalties. The fine for non-compliance has been set at up to A$50 million (₦59 billion or $32.5 million).
Governments around the world are closely Observing Australia’s approach. Norway has already announced a similar law, and the United Kingdom is currently reviewing the possibility of following suit.
The full details of the ban are expected to be presented to the Australian Federal Parliament later on Wednesday.
