Australia’s federal government has confirmed that YouTube will be included in the country’s under-16 social media ban, reversing its earlier decision to exempt the platform.
From 10 December, anyone under 16 will be blocked from having an active YouTube account or subscribing to channels. YouTube Kids, logged-out viewing, and parent-supervised use will still be allowed.
YouTube’s parent company Google has pushed back, arguing the platform is a video-sharing site, not a social network. The company says the decision breaks a previous commitment to exclude YouTube from the legislation, and it’s now weighing its legal options.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said the inclusion was based on data showing four in ten Australian kids experienced harm on YouTube. “We’re prioritising parents over platforms,” she said, adding the government “won’t be intimidated” by tech companies.
In a bizarre twist, Wells revealed that Google sent representatives from The Wiggles’ management team to lobby against YouTube’s inclusion. “That was Big Wiggle,” she joked while appearing on the Today show, noting that their involvement didn’t sway the decision. “You’re arguing that my four-year-old twins’ right to have a YouTube login is more important than their safety,” she said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also backed the move, appearing alongside parents who had lost children to social media-related harm. “We know social media is doing social harm,” he said.
YouTube will now join platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) as age-restricted services.
Companies that fail to block underage users could face fines of up to $49.5 million.
Messaging apps like WhatsApp and services related to education, health, and gaming remain exempt for now.
