In a major policy shift, Australia announced on Wednesday that YouTube will now be included in its pioneering social media restrictions for teenagers, reversing a previous decision to exempt the platform owned by Alphabet Inc.
The reversal follows pressure from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, who raised alarms last month after research revealed that 37% of children aged 10 to 15 had been exposed to harmful content on YouTube—more than any other social media platform.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese underscored the move as a step to protect young Australians. “Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs,” he said in a statement. “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.”
Previously, companies including Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Snapchat, and TikTok pushed back against YouTube’s initial exemption, calling it an uneven playing field.
YouTube, in response to the government’s decision, said it would assess its next steps. “We share the government’s goal of addressing and reducing online harms,” a company spokesperson stated. “Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform… not social media.”
Under the new law, passed in November and set to be enforced starting December, social media companies face penalties of up to A$49.5 million (about $32.2 million USD) for non-compliance.
Communications Minister Anika Wells clarified that platforms such as online gaming, messaging apps, and educational websites will remain exempt, noting they present fewer risks or are governed by separate legislation. “The rules are not a set and forget, they are a set and support,” Wells said.
