Australia social media ban 2025:YouTube now included
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday (July 30, 2025) it will include Alphabet-owned YouTube in its world-first ban on social media for teenagers, reversing an earlier decision to exempt the video-sharing platform.
Australia’s internet watchdog last month urged the government to overturn the proposed exemption for YouTube after its research found 37% of children aged 10 to 15 reported seeing harmful content on the platform, the most of any social media site.
Other social media companies such as Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok had argued an exemption for YouTube would be unfair.
“Social media has a social responsibility and there is no doubt that Australian kids are being negatively impacted by online platforms so I’m calling time on it,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.
“Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.”
Social media firms will be fined up to A$49.5 million ($32.2 million) from December if they break the law, which passed through parliament in November.
A YouTube spokesperson said the company would consider next steps and would continue to engage with the government.
“We share the government’s goal of addressing and reducing online harms. Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It’s not social media,” the spokesperson said by email.
Online gaming, messaging apps, and health and education sites will be excluded from the Centre-left government’s minimum age rules as they pose fewer social media harms to teens under 16, or are regulated under different laws, Communications Minister Anika Wells said.
“The rules are not a set and forget, they are a set and support,” Ms. Wells said.
Published – July 30, 2025 06:16 am IST
Australia Adds YouTube to Social Media Ban Targeting Children
Australia is advancing its digital safety policies by expanding its proposed restrictions to include YouTube under the Australia social media ban 2025. This initiative is designed to safeguard children from the harmful effects of social media platforms, especially those with addictive content and minimal age controls.
The Australia social media ban 2025 initially focused on platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. However, YouTube has now been added to the list due to growing concerns over algorithm-driven content that often exposes young users to inappropriate videos. While YouTube offers a version for children — YouTube Kids — experts argue it’s not sufficient to fully protect young minds from harmful material.
One of the key proposals within the Australia social media ban 2025 is to raise the legal minimum age for social media use from 13 to 16. If implemented, platforms would be legally required to enforce strict age verification processes, possibly including biometric or ID-based checks. These new rules aim to reduce digital addiction, cyberbullying, and mental health issues among minors.
Health professionals, educators, and parents have widely supported this move. They cite numerous studies linking excessive social media use to anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and attention disorders in children and teenagers. The inclusion of YouTube highlights the government’s concern about video content that bypasses traditional parental controls and exposes children to disturbing trends or misinformation.
Critics of the Australia social media ban 2025 argue that such measures may limit access to educational or creative content. However, supporters believe the long-term benefits for child safety and well-being outweigh these concerns.
Australia’s bold stance is expected to influence other nations considering similar actions. If passed, the Australia social media ban 2025 would make Australia a global leader in online child protection laws.
As the law progresses through consultations, tech companies like Google (which owns YouTube) may face pressure to adapt their platforms to comply with the coming regulations — setting the tone for the future of digital access for young users.
Learn more about how Australia is regulating online platforms
Australia Social Media Ban 2025: YouTube Now Included
“Protecting our children online is not just policy—it’s a responsibility we all share.”
— Michelle Rowland, Australian Minister for Communications