The Australian government has made a significant policy reversal regarding youth access to social media platforms.
Reports from Canberra indicate that YouTube, the popular video-sharing service, will now be included among social media platforms required to ensure account holders are at least 16 years old. This decision, announced by Communications Minister Anika Wells, represents a departure from the government’s position just months ago when YouTube was exempted from such restrictions.
The new rules, set to take effect on December 10th, are part of Australia’s world-first laws aimed at protecting children from potential online harms. Platforms failing to take responsible steps to exclude underage users could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars, or approximately 33 million U.S. dollars.
Last November, the Australian Parliament passed legislation banning children under 16 from platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X, formerly known as Twitter. At that time, YouTube was notably absent from this list.
Minister Wells defended the decision to include YouTube, citing government research indicating that four out of ten Australian children reported their most recent online harm occurred on the platform. YouTube, for its part, has expressed disappointment, stating that the decision “reverses a clear, public commitment to exclude YouTube from this ban.”
This development raises important questions about the balance between child safety and access to information. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has indicated that Australia will seek international support for such measures at an upcoming United Nations forum in New York.
As the first country to implement such broad restrictions on youth social media access, Australia’s actions may set a precedent for other nations grappling with similar concerns.