YouTube has announced that it will block users under the age of 16 in Australia, complying with a landmark social media law that prohibits minors from holding accounts on major platforms. The move concludes a tense standoff between Google and the Australian government after YouTube was initially exempted due to its educational value.
In a statement, YouTube confirmed that viewers must now be 16 or older to sign into the platform, calling the development “a disappointing update.” The company warned that the ban could reduce online safety for teens, arguing that younger users are better protected when signed in with parental controls.
Under the new law, which carries penalties of up to A$49.5 million ($32.5 million) for breaches, platforms must sign out all underage users by December 10. YouTube said affected accounts—approximately 325,000 Australians aged 13 to 15—will lose access to features like subscribing, liking, commenting, uploading, or managing channels. While they can still watch publicly available content, all personalised settings and parental controls will be disabled.
The change also impacts teen content creators, who will not be able to post or manage their channels. YouTube has not yet disclosed how it will verify user ages.
The Australian government argues that the measure is necessary due to increasing evidence of platforms failing to shield children from harmful material. Communications Minister Anika Wells criticised YouTube’s warning about logged-out safety risks, saying the platform must address inappropriate content rather than shift blame.
Most major platforms—Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat—have already agreed to comply. Only X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit have yet to publicly commit. Authorities say more platforms may be added to the list as younger users migrate elsewhere.
According to the eSafety Commissioner, more than one-third of Australians aged 10 to 15 report encountering harmful content on YouTube—more than on any other platform. Officials say the ban will serve as a global test case as other countries consider age-based restrictions for online services.
