The Australian government has officially included YouTube in its social media ban for users under 16, reversing an earlier position that would have exempted the video platform. Communications Minister Anika Wells announced the decision on Wednesday, July 30, stating that age-restricted social media platforms will now include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and YouTube, among others.
Set to take effect on December 10, 2025, the Online Safety (Age-Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules 2025 will impose fines of up to AU$49.5 million (~$32 million) on platforms that fail to prevent underage users from creating accounts.
The government cited research from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner as a key factor in its decision. The “Keeping Kids Safe” survey of nearly 3,500 Australian children aged 10-17 found that 37% of respondents reported encountering harmful content on YouTube. For children aged 10-12, the exposure rate was even higher at 46%. YouTube is also the most used platform among children under 16, with 76% of 10- to 15-year-olds reporting use, making it the primary source of harmful content exposure for younger users.
“YouTube uses the same persuasive design features as other social media platforms, like infinite scroll, like autoplay and algorithmic feed,” Wells told Parliament. “Our kids don’t stand a chance, and that is why I accepted the eSafety recommendation that YouTube should not be treated differently.”
Industry Response and Challenges
YouTube has expressed disappointment, stating the decision “reverses a clear, public commitment” from the government to treat the site as an educational tool. The platform is considering next steps and will continue to engage with the government.
Importantly, YouTube Kids will remain exempt from the ban as it doesn’t allow users to upload videos or comment on content.
The legislation defines age-restricted social media accounts as services that allow users to interact and post material. Certain online services including gaming platforms, messaging apps, and health and education services have been excluded as they either pose fewer social media harms to under-16s or are regulated under different laws.
Prior to the new law, YouTube creators had actively lobbied against inclusion in the ban. Shannon Jones of “Bounce Patrol,” a channel with 33 million subscribers, argued that “YouTube is not social media” and expressed concern about the impact on both creators and viewers.
Meanwhile, competing platforms, including Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat, had challenged YouTube’s potential exemption, describing it as creating an uneven regulatory environment. TikTok’s Australia policy director previously called any exemption “illogical,” comparing it to “banning the sale of soft drinks to minors but exempting Coca-Cola.”
Law Implementation
The government acknowledges that age verification presents challenges. A preliminary report released in June found that while age verification can be done in a “private, robust and effective” way, there is no “single ubiquitous solution” that would be 100% effective.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese framed the legislation as supporting families: “Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.”
Minister Wells likened the ban to teaching children to swim: “We can’t control the ocean, but we can police the sharks, and that’s why I will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the well-being of Australian kids.”
David Adler is an entrepreneur and freelance blog post writer who enjoys writing about business, entrepreneurship, travel and the influencer marketing space.
The Australian government has officially included YouTube in its social media ban for users under 16, reversing an earlier position that would have exempted the video platform. Communications Minister Anika Wells announced the decision on Wednesday, July 30, stating that age-restricted social media platforms will now include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and YouTube, among others.
Set to take effect on December 10, 2025, the Online Safety (Age-Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules 2025 will impose fines of up to AU$49.5 million (~$32 million) on platforms that fail to prevent underage users from creating accounts.
The government cited research from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner as a key factor in its decision. The “Keeping Kids Safe” survey of nearly 3,500 Australian children aged 10-17 found that 37% of respondents reported encountering harmful content on YouTube. For children aged 10-12, the exposure rate was even higher at 46%. YouTube is also the most used platform among children under 16, with 76% of 10- to 15-year-olds reporting use, making it the primary source of harmful content exposure for younger users.
“YouTube uses the same persuasive design features as other social media platforms, like infinite scroll, like autoplay and algorithmic feed,” Wells told Parliament. “Our kids don’t stand a chance, and that is why I accepted the eSafety recommendation that YouTube should not be treated differently.”
Industry Response and Challenges
YouTube has expressed disappointment, stating the decision “reverses a clear, public commitment” from the government to treat the site as an educational tool. The platform is considering next steps and will continue to engage with the government.
Importantly, YouTube Kids will remain exempt from the ban as it doesn’t allow users to upload videos or comment on content.
The legislation defines age-restricted social media accounts as services that allow users to interact and post material. Certain online services including gaming platforms, messaging apps, and health and education services have been excluded as they either pose fewer social media harms to under-16s or are regulated under different laws.
Prior to the new law, YouTube creators had actively lobbied against inclusion in the ban. Shannon Jones of “Bounce Patrol,” a channel with 33 million subscribers, argued that “YouTube is not social media” and expressed concern about the impact on both creators and viewers.
Meanwhile, competing platforms, including Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat, had challenged YouTube’s potential exemption, describing it as creating an uneven regulatory environment. TikTok’s Australia policy director previously called any exemption “illogical,” comparing it to “banning the sale of soft drinks to minors but exempting Coca-Cola.”
Law Implementation
The government acknowledges that age verification presents challenges. A preliminary report released in June found that while age verification can be done in a “private, robust and effective” way, there is no “single ubiquitous solution” that would be 100% effective.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese framed the legislation as supporting families: “Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.”
Minister Wells likened the ban to teaching children to swim: “We can’t control the ocean, but we can police the sharks, and that’s why I will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the well-being of Australian kids.”