Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reinforced the move, stating, “Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.”
Australia will ban children under 16 from creating accounts on YouTube starting December 10, expanding its groundbreaking social media restrictions to include the video-sharing platform.
The decision reverses an earlier government exemption, following evidence that nearly 40 percent of Australian children reported exposure to harmful content on YouTube, according to Communications Minister Anika Wells. She emphasized the need to protect children from “predatory algorithms” that target young users.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reinforced the move, stating, “Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.” The ban also covers platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X, and imposes fines up to Aus$49.5 million for non-compliance.
YouTube, owned by Alphabet, protested this classification, asserting it is primarily a video platform rather than social media. Despite objections, the legislation aims to reduce mental health harms and harmful online exposure for Australian youth in the world-first measure. The law’s enforcement details remain to be clarified.