YouTube Slams Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban

Sydney: YouTube has sharply criticised Australia’s impending under-16 social media ban, warning that the “world-first” legislation is rushed, misguided, and could ultimately make young users less safe online rather than protecting them.

Starting December 10, Australia will prohibit people under the age of 16 from using major social media platforms and sites including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The restriction forms part of a broader government effort to regulate online harms and curb the influence of what it calls “predatory algorithms” on children.

Read more: Sonya Hussaiyn wins best actor award at Russian Film Festival

YouTube’s Public Policy Manager Rachel Lord said in a statement that the new laws will not deliver the promised safety benefits and instead risk exposing children to more unregulated online spaces.

“This law will not fulfil its promise to make kids safer online, and will, in fact, make Australian kids less safe on YouTube,” Lord said.
“We’ve heard from parents and educators who share these concerns.”

YouTube was initially expected to be exempt from the restrictions because of its heavy use as an educational tool. However, the government reversed its position in July, arguing the platform’s recommendation systems also posed risks to young users.

YouTube confirmed that beginning December 10, all Australian users under 16—based on the age linked with their Google accounts—will be automatically signed out.

Although underage users will still be able to access YouTube without signing in, they will lose access to several features specifically designed for safety and wellbeing, including:

• Safety filters

• Restricted content controls

• Personalised wellbeing settings

Lord said the legislation “misunderstands our platform and the way young Australians use it,” arguing that banning children from age-restricted accounts deprives them of tools intended to protect them.

“At YouTube, we believe in protecting kids in the digital world, not from the digital world.”

The company said it will archive all affected accounts, allowing them to be restored in full when users turn 16.

Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells dismissed YouTube’s objections, calling the complaints “outright weird.”

“If YouTube is reminding us all that it is not safe and there’s content not appropriate for age-restricted users on their website, that’s a problem YouTube needs to fix,” Wells said.

The government maintains that although imperfect at launch, the restrictions are a necessary step to reduce online risks for minors. Platforms could face fines up to AU$49.5 million (US$32 million) if they fail to take “reasonable steps” to comply.

Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has already begun deactivating underage accounts using data such as provided birth dates.

Meanwhile, the laws have triggered a significant legal backlash. The Digital Freedom Project, an internet rights organisation, has filed a challenge in Australia’s High Court, arguing the ban is an “unfair” violation of freedom of speech and digital access.

As governments worldwide grapple with the impact of social media on children, Australia’s sweeping restrictions are being closely monitored. Whether they can be effectively enforced—and whether they will genuinely improve online safety—remains an open question.