YouTube added to under-16 social media ban in Albanese Government crackdown

The Albanese Government has officially named YouTube among the social media platforms that will be required to block access for Australians under 16, as part of sweeping new online safety laws set to take effect in December.

The move places YouTube alongside TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Snapchat under the “age-restricted social media” category, with platforms facing fines of up to $49.5 million if they fail to prevent underage users from creating accounts.

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Announced today by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Communications Anika Wells, the decision is a direct response to growing concerns over the impact of digital platforms on the wellbeing of children and teens.

“Social media is doing social harm to our children,” Albanese said in a statement. “I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.”

While platforms have long set 13 as the minimum age for users, enforcement has been patchy. The new rules aim to shift that burden onto tech companies, requiring them to take “reasonable steps” to restrict underage access - or face penalties. It also marks a significant departure from the earlier ambiguity around YouTube’s classification, with the government now confirming it meets the definition of a social media platform due to its interactive features and user-generated content.

The rules, developed with guidance from the eSafety Commissioner, exclude messaging apps, gaming platforms and health or education services - areas seen as posing fewer risks or covered by separate regulation.

Minister Anika Wells said the law gives children “a reprieve from the persuasive and pervasive pull of social media” while giving parents “peace of mind.”

“We want kids to know who they are before platforms assume who they are,” she said. “There’s a place for social media, but there’s not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children.”

The inclusion of YouTube could reshape the platform’s youth engagement strategy in Australia - a market where younger users make up a significant portion of watch time and creator ecosystem. It also creates implications for marketers, advertisers and content creators who rely on youth-driven engagement or family-targeted content strategies on YouTube.

The laws are set to take effect from 10 December 2025, giving platforms less than five months to introduce more robust age verification and parental controls.