Australia Bans YouTube for Kids Under 16 from December 10, 2025.
International
The Australian government has officially added YouTube to its list of banned platforms for users under 16, effective December 10, 2025, under the Online Safety Amendment Act 2024. This move aims to strengthen protections against harmful online content for children.
- YouTube was initially exempt but was recently included after the eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant cited rising cases of minors being exposed to violent and harmful content. The platform is now classified as a social media site under the law.
- A 2024 national survey revealed that 37% of children reported encountering disturbing content on YouTube, the highest among all platforms. This included exposure to conspiracy theories, misogyny, violence, and self-harm content.
Main Point :- (i) Under the new rules, social media platforms including YouTube must delete underage accounts, prevent new ones, and implement strict age-verification mechanisms. Companies failing to comply could face fines up to AUD 49.5 million.
(ii) Children will still be able to access public videos on YouTube without signing in, but features like liking, commenting, or subscribing will be restricted unless age is verified.
(iii) The decision is backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, while YouTube’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., has opposed the move, claiming YouTube is not a typical social media platform and may challenge the law.
About Australia
Capital: Canberra
Governor-general: Sam Mostyn
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