Australia Moves to Ban Social Media, Youtube for Teens

Australia has added YouTube to its sweeping new ban on social media use for children under 16, marking a major shift in the country’s crackdown on online platforms.

The world-first legislation, set to roll out in December, will now include YouTube alongside TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchat.

Initially, YouTube was exempt from the restrictions.

However, the government reversed that decision following concerns over harmful content targeting younger users.

While teens will still be able to watch YouTube videos, they will be barred from creating accounts, which are necessary to upload content, comment, or interact on the platform.

YouTube, owned by Google, had argued it should not be included in the ban.

The tech giant insisted the site “offers benefit and value to younger Australians” and claimed in a statement, “It’s not social media.”

Global Eyes on Australia’s Bold Move

Australia’s decision is drawing attention from governments around the world.

Norway has already announced a similar policy, and the United Kingdom is currently reviewing its stance.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the move on Wednesday, telling reporters:

“Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.”

He added that while the ban won’t fix everything, “it will make a difference.”

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, recently pushed for YouTube’s inclusion, citing it as the “most frequently reported platform” for harmful content viewed by children aged 10 to 15.

Shortly after the updated ban was announced, YouTube responded that it would “consider next steps” and continue discussions with the government.

Reports surfaced last week that Google had threatened legal action against the government, arguing the policy could violate freedom of expression.

However, officials remain undeterred.

Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells emphasized the importance of the policy:

“There’s a place for social media, but there’s not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children.”

She compared the challenge to parenting in the digital age to “teaching your kids to swim in the open ocean filled with rips and sharks” instead of in a safe local pool.

“We can’t control the ocean, but we can police the sharks,” Wells said. “And that’s why we won’t be intimidated by legal threats this is a genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids.”

What’s Excluded from the Ban?

Certain apps will remain available to children under 16, including:

• Online gaming platforms

• Messaging services

• Educational tools

• Health-related apps

These were deemed to pose fewer social harms compared to traditional social media platforms.

 Penalties for Non-Compliance

Under the upcoming law, tech companies that fail to enforce the age ban could face fines of up to A$50 million (approx. $32.5 million USD). Companies will be required to:

• Deactivate existing underage accounts

• Block new sign-ups from users under 16

• Close loopholes and fix system errors

The Australian Parliament is expected to receive the full details of the plan this week. Meanwhile, experts believe this move could set the tone for global regulation of teen access to social media in the years ahead

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