Google’s YouTube has announced a “disappointing update” for millions of Australian users and creators, confirming it will comply with the country’s world-first ban on social media access for under-16s by locking affected users out of their accounts within days.
The decision ends a dispute between Google and the Australian government, which had initially exempted YouTube due to its educational value. The company previously said it was seeking legal advice after being included in the law.
“Viewers must now be 16 or older to sign in to YouTube,” the platform said in a statement.
“This is a disappointing update to share. This law will not achieve its goal of making children safer online and will, in fact, make Australian kids less safe on YouTube.”
The Australian legislation, closely watched around the world, could set a global precedent for how major tech firms balance child safety with access to digital services. Authorities say the move follows growing evidence that social media companies are failing to adequately shield minors from harmful content.
Underage users to be signed out
YouTube said that from 10 December, anyone under 16 will automatically be signed out of their accounts and will no longer be able to subscribe, like or comment, though they can still watch videos while logged out. This also means underage creators will be unable to post new content. The company did not clarify how it plans to verify users’ ages.
In an email to parents and carers, YouTube reiterated its belief that the ban will not enhance safety, “Parental controls only work when your pre-teen or teen is signed in, so the settings you’ve chosen will no longer apply.”
Communications Minister Anika Wells told reporters in Canberra that it was “odd that YouTube keeps reminding us how unsafe their platform is when users are logged out.”
“If YouTube admits there’s inappropriate content for minors on its site, that’s a problem YouTube itself needs to fix,” she added.
The law prohibits under-16s from holding social media accounts and imposes penalties of up to A$49.5 million (£25.5 million) for violations. Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat have all agreed to comply, while Elon Musk’s X and Reddit have yet to commit publicly.
Wells acknowledged reports that lesser-known social apps are gaining traction among young users, saying the tech industry is “dynamic” and that the government’s list of covered platforms “will need to expand as different platforms receive migratory patterns.”
According to Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, YouTube has around 325,000 accounts belonging to users aged 13 to 15—behind Snapchat’s 440,000 and Instagram’s 350,000. The watchdog has also found that more than a third of Australians aged 10 to 15 have encountered harmful content on YouTube, the highest rate among major platforms.
Thailand launched air strikes along its disputed border with Cambodia on Monday after fresh fighting erupted between the two neighbours, raising fears...
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says recent talks with U.S. representatives on a possible peace plan were “constructive, although not easy...
In 2013, just a month after becoming president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita declared that the days of mutinous soldiers undermining government authority in...
Polling closed on Sunday (7 December) in Hong Kong’s overhauled “patriots-only” legislative election, with vote counting now underway....
Thailand launched air strikes along its disputed border with Cambodia on Monday after fresh fighting erupted between the two neighbours, raising fears of the collapse of a peace plan brokered just months ago by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says recent talks with U.S. representatives on a possible peace plan were “constructive, although not easy,” as he prepares for new consultations with European leaders in coming days.
In 2013, just a month after becoming president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita declared that the days of mutinous soldiers undermining government authority in the capital, Bamako, were over. Yet, seven years later, Keita himself was toppled, facing the very fate he had vowed to prevent.
A coup attempt by “a small group of soldiers” has been foiled, Beninese Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said on Sunday on national television, urging citizens to continue their daily activities.
A delayed local vote in the rural Honduran town of San Antonio de Flores has become a pivotal moment in the country’s tightest presidential contest, with both campaigns watching its results as counting stretches into a second week.
FIFA releases the 2026 World Cup schedule with match dates, venues, and key fixtures. See when host nations USA, Mexico, and Canada play and get an overview of group stage and knockout rounds.
Lava fountains shot from Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano from dawn to dusk on Saturday, with new footage showing intensifying activity at the north vent.
McLaren’s Lando Norris became Formula One world champion for the first time in Abu Dhabi, edging Max Verstappen to the title by just two points after a tense season finale.
U.S. industrial production rose by 0.1% in September, rebounding after a decline in August, while capacity utilisation remained unchanged, according to Federal Reserve data on Wednesday.
President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow has signed the “On Virtual Assets” law, which will officially legalise cryptocurrency mining and exchange activities in the country from 1 January 2026.
European Union ministers will urge senior U.S. trade officials to implement more elements of the July EU–U.S. trade deal on Monday, including cutting tariffs on EU steel and lifting duties on goods such as wine and spirits.
Google has announced a major update for its Pixel 10 series: owners can now send and receive files with Apple devices using AirDrop, without any collaboration from Apple. The new functionality applies to iPhones, iPads, and macOS devices, though for now it is limited to the Pixel 10 line.
European shares climbed on Thursday, as a relief rally swept through global markets after artificial intelligence (AI) bellwether Nvidia reported strong earnings, while investors awaited the release of delayed U.S. jobs data.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment