Sydney —
YouTube on Wednesday sharply criticized Australia’s decision to ban users under the age of 16 from major social media platforms, calling the policy “rushed” and warning that it could make young people less safe online.
Starting December 10, Australia plans to restrict access for users under 16 on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Under the new rule, all Australian users below the age of 16 will be automatically signed out of their accounts.
Rachel Lord, YouTube’s Head of Public Policy, said the new law will not deliver its promise of improving online safety for children.
“This law will not make children safer online. In fact, it could make young Australians less safe on YouTube. We’ve already heard such concerns from parents and teachers,” she said.
While under-16 users will still be able to browse YouTube without signing in, they will lose access to several features, including safety-related settings such as filtering tools. “We believe in keeping young people safe in the digital world,” Lord added.
YouTube has stated that accounts belonging to under-16 users will be securely stored and can be reactivated once the users turn 16, with no data being deleted.
However, Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells called YouTube’s criticism “unusual,” stating:
“If YouTube is reminding us that its platform isn’t fully safe and contains content inappropriate for children, then that is a problem YouTube itself must fix.”
Regulators worldwide are debating whether such age-based restrictions on social media can effectively reduce risks, including exposure to harmful content, addiction, and privacy violations. The Australian government has acknowledged that the ban may not be fully effective at first and that some underage users may still evade the system. But platforms failing to take “reasonable steps” could face fines of up to 4.95 million AUD (3.2 million USD).
Meta has already begun disabling accounts based on age checks. Meanwhile, digital rights organization Digital Freedom Project has filed a lawsuit in the High Court, calling the ban an “unjust attack” on freedom of expression.
