As Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 comes into force on 10 December 2025, children under 16 in Australia will be barred from holding accounts on major social media platforms — including YouTube.
YouTube has confirmed it will comply: all under-16 users in Australia will be automatically signed out and prevented from logging back in or creating new accounts.
Why YouTube says this could backfire
YouTube argues the ban could in fact make children less safe, not safer.
- The company says that key protections — parental controls, safety filters, and wellbeing settings — only work when a user is logged in. Once under-16s are forced to browse logged-out, these safety nets disappear.
- Under-16s would still be able to watch videos, but without the benefit of account-based moderation or supervised access.
- YouTube warns the ban was “rushed” and doesn’t properly consider the complexity of protecting young users who use the platform for learning — not just socialising or “social media.”
What the new law does
The minimum-age requirement means:
- Platforms must deactivate accounts for under-16s and prevent new sign-ups by that age.
- Some platforms face fines up to AUD 49.5 million if they fail to “take reasonable steps” to enforce the ban.
- Underage users won’t completely lose access to sites (they may still browse while logged out), but functionalities like comments, likes, subscriptions, uploads and playlists will be disabled.
The broader debate: safety vs access
Supporters of the ban — including government bodies such as eSafety Commissioner — argue the law is a bold step to protect youth from harmful content, addictive algorithms, cyberbullying and other online risks.
But critics, led by YouTube, counter that sweeping account bans are a blunt instrument: they fail to distinguish between harmful and benign use, and may force kids into more dangerous “logged-out” browsing environments where protections are weaker.
There is also concern some children will migrate to smaller or less regulated apps — potentially exposing themselves to even greater risks.
What it means for parents, teens and the platforms
From 10 December onward:
- Teens under 16 may still watch videos on YouTube — but they won’t enjoy key features like playlists, comments or recommended “safe mode.”
- Parental supervision tools tied to accounts may no longer be available, complicating efforts to monitor children’s YouTube use.
- Families may need to weigh whether banning account access truly reduces risk — or simply pushes young users into less safe, unregulated corners of the internet.
- For platforms, the law sets a global precedent: major tech companies will need to balance compliance with child-safety regulations against accusations that sweeping age limits undermine protection.
7 years in the field, from local radio to digital newsrooms. Loves chasing the stories that matter to everyday Aussies – whether it’s climate, cost of living or the next big thing in tech.
