CANBERRA, July 30: Australia will include YouTube in its upcoming social media ban for children under the age of 16, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Wednesday. The platform, initially exempted due to its educational and health content, will now be subject to the same restrictions as other social media platforms when the ban comes into effect on December 10.
The decision follows formal advice from the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, who warned the government in June that YouTube exposes children to harmful content. In response, Albanese and Minister for Communications Anika Wells confirmed the federal government has accepted the recommendation to remove the exemption.
“We know this is not the only solution, and there’s more to do. But it will make a difference,” said Prime Minister Albanese during a press conference in Canberra, affirming the government’s readiness to “take action” against platforms contributing to social harm.
Minister Wells emphasized that the inclusion of YouTube reflects the government’s commitment to “prioritising parents ahead of platforms.” She added that authorities “will not be intimidated” by legal threats from tech giants.
“We can’t control the ocean, but we can police the sharks, and that is why we will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the well-being of Australian kids,” Wells stated.
Earlier in July, YouTube and its parent company Google had threatened legal action on constitutional grounds if the government revoked the exemption. In a statement issued through Google, a YouTube spokesperson criticized the government’s decision, saying it reversed “a clear and public commitment” to exclude the platform from the ban. The company also said it will “consider its next steps.”
The government has indicated that it is still awaiting the final recommendations from a trial of age assurance technology before clarifying how the ban will be implemented.
