The Australian government has announced a landmark ban on children under 16 having personal YouTube accounts, marking a major step in its campaign to protect young users from online harm.
From December 10, 2025, YouTube will join TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and other platforms restricted under laws introduced last year to address the dangers of social media for children.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed the policy after accepting a formal recommendation from eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. Her report found YouTube was the most common site where children experienced online harm, cited by nearly 40% of affected users.
The move reverses a previous exemption granted by former minister Michelle Rowland, who had argued YouTube played a valuable educational role. But the government now says child protection must come first.
“We can’t control the ocean, but we can police the sharks,” Minister Wells said, adding, “This is a genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids.”
What does the ban mean for kids and parents?
- Children under 16 can still watch videos on YouTube without logging in.
- They cannot have accounts, subscribe to channels, or view age-restricted content.
- The YouTube Kids app will remain available as it’s designed for younger audiences.
- Parents and teachers can still use YouTube for educational purposes on shared devices.
How will age verification work?
While the final verification system is still in development, platforms will be required to prevent underage users from accessing restricted content. However, they won’t be allowed to require ID documents, and instead must use existing data or alternative methods to determine users’ ages.
Who is responsible?
Tech platforms, not parents, will be held accountable.
“They must deactivate existing underage accounts and stop new ones from being created,” said Minister Wells. “If your child has a Facebook or YouTube account after December 10, the platform—not the parent—is responsible.”
The changes come in the wake of the Let Them Be Kids campaign and growing public concern about social media’s impact on mental health and safety. The Albanese government has vowed to push similar standards internationally.
