Skip to content
DNN18
  • Home
  • U.S
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Tech News
  • India
  • weather
  • Horoscopes

Australia Reverses Earlier Position, Now Banning YouTube Accounts for Kids Under 16

Written by: Sachin Mane

Published on: 07/30/2025

YouTube
Follow Us

The Australian government has announced that YouTube will be required to ensure account holders are at least 16 years old starting this December, reversing an earlier decision that had exempted the platform. This change comes as part of new laws aimed at protecting children from harmful content on social media.

Previously, when Parliament passed landmark legislation to ban children under 16 from using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X, YouTube was excluded. However, Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed on Wednesday that YouTube will now fall under the age-restricted category. Platforms that fail to restrict underage users could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (about $33 million).

Thai officials confiscate over 2 tons of crystal methamphetamine valued at more than $90 million
Thai officials confiscate over 2 tons of crystal methamphetamine valued at more than $90 million

Minister Wells defended the move, citing government research that shows four out of ten Australian children report their most recent online harm occurred on YouTube. She emphasized that the government will not back down despite legal threats from Alphabet Inc., YouTube’s U.S. parent company.

Under the new rules, children will still be able to watch content on YouTube but will not be allowed to create their own accounts. YouTube responded by saying this decision reverses a previous public commitment to exclude them from the ban and insisted that YouTube is a video-sharing platform, not a social media service. The company said it supports efforts to reduce online harm and will engage with the government to discuss next steps.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the country plans to push for international support for banning children from social media during a United Nations meeting in New York this September. He noted that many other countries are also concerned about social media’s impact on young people.

Fire at Tesla dealership near Rome destroys 17 cars
Fire at Tesla dealership near Rome destroys 17 cars

The government is awaiting final recommendations from a recently commissioned review on age verification technologies, which will explore how to effectively keep young children off social media. Minister Wells assured that platforms won’t require users to upload sensitive documents like passports or driver’s licenses to verify their age. Instead, companies will have to offer alternative methods, leveraging their existing data on user accounts to confirm age.

Some services, such as online gaming, messaging, educational, and health apps, are exempt from the restrictions as they are considered less harmful to children.

These new age limits aim to combat a range of negative effects on children, including addictive behaviors driven by manipulative platform designs, social isolation, disrupted sleep, poor mental and physical health, reduced life satisfaction, and exposure to inappropriate content, according to government documents.

Also Read:

Trump’s Tariffs May Strain U.S. Factories and Raise Production Costs by Up to 4.5%, New Study Reveals

US-EU Trade War Risk Grows as Trump Meets European Leader in Scotland

Categories World Tags Australia, children under 16, YouTube account

Sachin Mane

For Feedback - dailynewsnetwork18@gmail.com

Related News

Hurricane
Hurricane Erin Expected to Bring Hazardous Waves and Strong Winds to North Carolina’s Outer Banks
08/18/2025
skibidi
Cambridge Dictionary Includes ‘Skibidi’ and ‘Tradwife’ in List of 6,000 New Words
08/18/2025
Hurricane
Hurricane Erin Downgrades to Category 3 as Meteorologists Monitor Expected Northward Shift
08/17/2025
shipbuilding
U.S. Looks to South Korea and Japan for Shipbuilding Support to Compete with China
08/17/2025
Russian
Fire at Russian industrial facility claims 11 lives and injures 130
08/16/2025
Hurricane
Hurricane Erin Approaches, Bringing Heavy Rain to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
08/15/2025

LATEST NEWS

Hurricane
Hurricane Erin Expected to Bring Hazardous Waves and Strong Winds to North Carolina’s Outer Banks
Published On: 08/18/2025
Texas
Texas Officials Announce End of Measles Outbreak
Published On: 08/18/2025
Wall Street
Wall Street Remains Close to Record Highs
Published On: 08/18/2025
skibidi
Cambridge Dictionary Includes ‘Skibidi’ and ‘Tradwife’ in List of 6,000 New Words
Published On: 08/18/2025
Stacy Garrity
Republican Stacy Garrity Announces Run to Oppose Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s Reelection
Published On: 08/18/2025
Newsmax
Newsmax Agrees to Pay $67 Million in Defamation Case Over False 2020 Election Claims
Published On: 08/18/2025

DNN18.com is your go-to source for the latest news in technology, automobiles, business, entertainment, and sports. We aim to deliver engaging, reliable, and up-to-date content to keep you informed and inspired.

Follow Us On Social Media

Get Latest Update

About Us

Contact Us

Disclaimer

Privacy policy

© 2025 dnn18.com • All rights reserved

  • Home
  • U.S
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Tech News
  • India
  • weather
  • Horoscopes