Australia has tightened its regulations on social media usage by minors, extending restrictions to YouTube. The government had previously banned children under 16 from creating accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X. Starting December, the rule will also apply to YouTube, preventing minors from opening accounts, though they will still be able to watch videos without posting or commenting.
Authorities cited increasing harmful online content and cyberbullying as major concerns affecting children’s mental health. A recent national survey revealed that 75% of children aged 10 to 15 actively use YouTube, with 37% of those exposed to harmful content encountering it on the platform. Companies that fail to comply with the new restrictions could face fines of up to $50 million.
YouTube responded by stating that it is primarily a video-sharing platform rather than a social networking service, and assured that it is engaging in discussions with the government regarding the new policy. Experts describe this as one of the strictest social media regulations globally, predicting that other countries may adopt similar measures in the future.