YouTube to adhere to Australia's ban on teen social media usage

SYDNEY, Dec 3 (Reuters) - YouTube, owned by Google, has announced it will follow Australia's unprecedented law banning social media accounts for children under 16. This move marks a turning point as all major platforms popular with young users have now agreed to comply after initially opposing the regulation.

Initially, Google had been exempted because YouTube's primary focus was seen as video streaming and education rather than social networking. However, following complaints from other platforms, Australian authorities extended the law to include YouTube.

We will adhere to the law and enforce age restrictions as required, YouTube stated in a blog post on Wednesday, one week before the regulation takes effect on December 10. The company emphasized, however, that it disagrees with being classified as a social media service, describing its platform as fundamentally different.

The Australian legislation is being observed internationally as other countries consider similar age-based restrictions, potentially setting a global precedent on how major U.S.-based tech companies balance child safety with digital access.

The government in Canberra says the law addresses growing evidence that social platforms are not adequately protecting children from harmful content. Under the new rules, users under 16 will be automatically logged out of their accounts from December 10, preventing them from subscribing, liking, or commenting, although content will remain accessible while logged out. Young content creators will also be unable to post or log in. YouTube has not yet detailed how it will verify users ages.

Caregivers were informed by email that parental controls only work when your pre-teen or teen is signed in, so the settings you've chosen will no longer apply. The legislation sets penalties up to A$49.5 million ($32.5 million) for noncompliance.

Previously, Metas Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, and Snaps Snapchat confirmed they would follow the law. Among platforms named by the government, only Elon Musk's X and Reddit have not publicly committed to compliance.

According to the Australian eSafety Commissioner, YouTube has 325,000 accounts held by Australians aged 13 to 15, ranking behind Snapchat with 440,000 and Instagram with 350,000 in the same age group. eSafety also reports that over one-third of Australians aged 10 to 15 have encountered harmful content on YouTube, the highest proportion among all platforms.

Since being included in the age-restricted category, YouTube has sought legal guidance, fueling media speculation about a possible challenge, though the company has not confirmed any legal action.

(Reporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Stephen Coates)

Author: Sophia Brooks