Australia adds YouTube to teen social media ban after watchdog warning

The Australian government has reversed its earlier decision to exempt YouTube from a landmark social media ban targeting under-16s, following concerns raised by the country’s internet watchdog.

The eSafety Commission urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government to reconsider YouTube’s exclusion last month, after a study revealed that 37% of children aged 10 to 15 reported exposure to harmful material on the platform—more than on any other social media site.

In response, Albanese said his administration is taking a firm stand. “Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs,” he said.

“Social media has a social responsibility and there is no doubt that Australian kids are being negatively impacted by online platforms so I'm calling time on it,” he added.

Under the new rules, which come into effect in December, platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok will be required to enforce a minimum age of 16 or face fines of up to AU$49.5 million (around $32.2 million). The legislation was passed in November 2024.

The decision was welcomed by other social media companies who had argued that YouTube's earlier exemption was unfair, as it allowed one major platform to sidestep the new restrictions.

A YouTube spokesperson said, “We share the government’s goal of addressing and reducing online harms. Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It's not social media.”

Communications Minister Anika Wells clarified that the law will not apply to online gaming, messaging apps, or education and health websites, which she said pose fewer risks or are covered under different legal frameworks.

“The rules are not a set and forget, they are a set and support,” she said.

Australia’s legislation is the first of its kind globally, aiming to curb the growing influence of social media on mental health among young users. Studies have increasingly linked social platforms to anxiety, depression, and body image issues in teenagers.

According to national statistics, more than 80% of children aged 12 to 15 use social media, often without adequate age verification.

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