YouTube to lock out Australian users under 16 to comply with social media ban

SYDNEY — Google’s YouTube announced Wednesday it will block Australian users under 16 from signing into their accounts starting Dec. 10, complying with the country’s world-first law banning teens from social media platforms.

The move ends a standoff with the Australian government, which initially exempted YouTube from the restrictions due to its educational value but later included it. Google had sought legal advice on the matter.

“Viewers must now be 16 or older to sign into YouTube,” the company said in a statement. “This is a disappointing update to share. This law will not fulfill its promise to make kids safer online and will, in fact, make Australian kids less safe on YouTube.”

Under the policy, users under 16 will be automatically signed out and barred from subscribing, liking or commenting on videos, though they can still watch content without logging in. Underage creators also won’t be able to post. YouTube did not detail how it would verify ages.

The company warned caregivers in emails that parental controls would no longer apply in a logged-out state, reiterating that the ban could expose children to more unfiltered content.

The law, which carries fines up to A$49.5 million ($32.5 million) for violations, aims to shield children from harmful online material after evidence showed platforms failing to protect them adequately. Meta Platforms’ Facebook and Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat have pledged compliance. Elon Musk’s X and Reddit have not publicly committed.

Communications Minister Anika Wells called YouTube’s safety concerns in a logged-out state “weird” and a problem for the company to solve.

YouTube has 325,000 Australian accounts held by users aged 13-15, second only to Snapchat’s 440,000 and Instagram’s 350,000, according to the eSafety Commissioner. More than one-third of Australians aged 10-15 reported encountering harmful content on YouTube, the highest rate among major platforms.

The ban is drawing international attention as other countries weigh similar restrictions, potentially setting a precedent for how U.S.-based tech giants navigate child safety and access to digital tools.

--REAL AMERICA'S VOICE

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