Starting this December, children under 16 in Australia won’t be allowed to create YouTube accounts. The government is expanding its social media restrictions to include YouTube, which already apply to TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).
Even though YouTube is mostly known as a video platform, the government believes it can still expose children to harmful content, just like other social media sites. The goal of this ban is to keep kids safe from online dangers like cyberbullying, mental health problems, and harmful or inappropriate content.
What Will Change for Kids?
Children under 16 will still be able to watch YouTube videos, but without an account. This means they won’t get personalised recommendations, can’t post videos, or leave comments anymore.
Why Is Australia Doing This?
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government wants to protect young people’s mental health and safety online. He said social media is causing “social harm” and more needs to be done to stop it.
Studies have shown that many kids are exposed to harmful content online. A large number of children aged 10–15 in Australia use YouTube more than TikTok or Instagram. In fact, 37% of kids who saw harmful online content said they found it on YouTube.
Because of this, the eSafety Commissioner decided YouTube should not be treated differently and should also follow the same rules as other platforms.
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Public Supports the Decision
A recent survey of 4,000 Australians found that 9 out of 10 people support age restrictions for social media. Many believe this will help protect kids from mental health issues, explicit content, and online predators.
While some people are concerned this might limit kids’ digital learning and social connections, others believe strong rules are needed to protect children from the harmful side of the internet.
Australia’s move is one of the strictest online safety laws in the world. It may inspire other countries to take similar steps. However, it also raises questions about digital freedom, parental control, and how tech companies will adjust to these new rules.
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