Australia will ban children under 16 from having YouTube accounts, adding the platform to its growing list of age-restricted social media sites.
The rule takes effect from December 10, 2025, and reverses the government’s previous decision to exempt YouTube from such restrictions.
The new law means anyone under 16 will no longer be able to create a personal YouTube account in Australia. Young people will still be able to watch videos without logging in or through someone else’s account, but will not be allowed to upload, comment, or interact as account holders.
Australian authorities say the move is designed to protect children from online harm. Communications Minister Anika Wells said,
“The evidence cannot be ignored that four out of 10 Australian kids report that their most recent harm was on YouTube…We will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids.”
She compared the ban to teaching children to swim in a safe environment rather than throwing them into the ocean.
Social media and tech companies will be required to close existing accounts of users under 16 and stop new ones from being created. If they fail to comply, they could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (about ₦57 billion).
YouTube, owned by Google, has pushed back against the policy. The company insists it is “not social media” but a video-sharing platform, and says it offers educational and positive content to young users. YouTube has pledged to “consider next steps and continue talks with the government.” The platform also highlights existing safety measures – like YouTube Kids, which will not be impacted by the ban.
Australia’s new rule is attracting global attention. The Prime Minister says he will campaign for similar regulations at the UN, as other countries debate the impact of social media on children’s wellbeing.
For now, Australia is set to become the first country forcing YouTube – and all major social media platforms – to lock out under-16s from personal accounts, as concerns over digital safety take centre stage.
