Australia adds YouTube to under-16 ban

Canberra

Australia will now include YouTube in its new rule banning children under 16 from using social media. This change was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells on Wednesday.

The rule will start on December 10. At first, YouTube was not included because of its helpful videos on education and health. But the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, advised the government in June that YouTube also exposes children to harmful content.

Albanese said the government is ready to act against platforms that may harm children. “This won’t fix everything, but it’s a good step,” he said.

Wells added that this move puts “parents ahead of platforms.” She said the government will not be scared by legal threats from big tech companies. Earlier in July, Google and YouTube had warned they might take legal action against the ban.

Wells compared the internet to the ocean, saying, “We can’t control the ocean, but we can police the sharks.” She stressed that this step is about keeping kids safe online.

YouTube said the decision breaks a promise made earlier to keep the platform out of the ban. The company said it will now decide what to do next.

The government is waiting for the final results from a trial on age-checking technology before explaining how the ban will be applied.

This is the first rule of its kind in the world and part of Australia’s bigger plan to make the internet safer for children.