Australia to ban YouTube accounts for children under 16 from December 10

Australia has reversed course on its earlier exemption and will include YouTube in a landmark social media ban for users under 16. The updated legislation, effective December 10, 2025, now covers YouTube alongside platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and X

✅ What the Ban Means

• Children under 16 will not be allowed to create or hold accounts on YouTube, though they can continue watching videos without logging in
• Platforms must take “reasonable steps” to block underage access, or face fines up to A$49.5 million (~US $32 million)
• Not all digital services are affected—online games, messaging apps, and education or health platforms (including YouTube Kids, Google Classroom, and WhatsApp) remain exempt

🔄 What Changed & Why

• The original version of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, passed in late November, had exempted YouTube from the ban due to its perceived educational role
• In July 2025, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant submitted evidence showing that 37% of online harms reported by youths occurred on YouTube, urging the government to reverse the exemption
• On this basis, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed the reversal, underscoring the government’s priority to protect youth online

🧪 Criticism & Support

Big Tech Pushback

Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and others had criticized the original exemption, calling it “irrational,” “short‑sighted,” and anti‑competitive, as YouTube shares algorithmic, social features similar to other platforms

Advocates for Balanced Policy

Some child safety advocates and academics had supported YouTube’s earlier exemption, arguing that banning it might harm children’s access to educational content and self‑directed learning

📆 Timeline & Enforcement

• Legislation passed: November 29, 2024 — the Online Safety Amendment Act
• Compliance trial: Age-assurance technology trial and consultation completed by mid‑2025
• Ban effective: December 10, 2025 — platforms must comply or face penalties up to A$49.5 million

🌍 Global Ambitions

Prime Minister Albanese will elevate Australia’s policy at the United Nations General Assembly in September, encouraging other nations to adopt similar protections for minors online

⚡ Why It Matters

• Strongest teen social media law globally: Includes rigorous age checks and penalties.
• Policy shift signals evidence-led governance: Reversal based on eSafety data underscores child protection priorities.
• Raises issues on age verification: Platforms must navigate privacy, technology, and compliance hurdles without requiring formal ID documents like passports or driving licenses

Summary Table