SYDNEY – On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Australia announced that it would include Alphabet-owned YouTube in its world-first ban on social media for teens under 16. This was a change from an earlier decision to let the video-sharing site stay open. This big change in policy comes after a lot of criticism from Australia’s internet watchdog and other social media businesses.
The Australian government changed its mind after the eSafety Commissioner, the country’s internet safety authority, determined that 37% of kids aged 10 to 15 had seen hazardous information on YouTube, the greatest percentage of any social media site they looked at. This statistics went against the first reason why YouTube was not banned, which was partially because people thought it was useful for learning.
In a statement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the government’s position clear: “Social media has a social responsibility, and it’s clear that Australian kids are being hurt by online platforms, so I’m calling time on it.” I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs because social media is hurting our kids.
Other social media companies, like Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, had previously said that YouTube should not get an exception since its content suggestions and user engagement features are similar to theirs.
As of December, social media companies will be fined up to A49.5 million (about US32.2 million) if they don’t stop people under 16 from making accounts. This new law passed through parliament in November.
A YouTube spokeswoman said that the business would “think about what to do next and keep talking to the government.” The representative said again what YouTube’s viewpoint is: “We share the government’s goal of addressing and reducing online harms.” Our stance is still clear: YouTube is a video-sharing site with a library of free, high-quality videos that more and more people are watching on TV. “It’s not social media.” This position could lead to a court fight because Google, the parent firm of YouTube, has previously threatened to take legal action if the exemption was taken away.
Anika Wells, the Minister of Communications, said that some internet services, such online gaming, messaging applications, and health and education sites, will still not be subject to the minimum age requirements. These groups are thought to be less harmful to kids under 16 on social media or are governed by different legislation. Wells said, “The rules are not a set and forget; they are a set and support,” stressing that the rules will always be enforced and changed as needed. She also said that “four out of ten Australian kids say that their most recent harm happened on YouTube.”
The law will oblige platforms to take “reasonable steps” to stop underage accounts, such as shutting down known underage accounts, stopping new ones from being made, and making it harder to get around the rules. Kids can still watch YouTube videos while they are not logged in or are being watched by an adult, but they can’t make their own accounts or sign up for channels.