Australia Moves To Ban YouTube For Under-16s In Major Social Media Crackdown
Australia has taken a bold step in its push to protect children online, announcing plans to ban YouTube accounts for anyone under the age of 16.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that the popular video-sharing platform owned by tech giant Alphabet would no longer be accessible to young users under the age threshold.
“Young people under the age of 16 will not be able to have accounts on YouTube,” he said, describing it as part of a broader move to shield teenagers from harmful online content.
YouTube was previously granted an exemption due to its heavy use in education, especially among teachers.
However, the government has now opted to tighten its landmark social media legislation, originally introduced last year, making Australia the first country to propose such a sweeping ban on teen access to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
The tech companies affected have pushed back strongly against the restrictions, warning of the potential impact on youth engagement and freedom of expression.
Still, the Australian government insists the new law is a necessary step to ensure safer digital spaces for children and teens.
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