YouTube has rejected a new law by the Australian government that bans children under 16 from using the platform. The law is part of a wider plan to keep young people off social media to protect them from harmful content.
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, said the new rule will apply to all major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. The law is expected to start on December 10, 2025.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said the decision was made because many children were being exposed to harmful videos and “predatory algorithms.” She added that kids should understand who they are before being influenced by online content.
But YouTube disagrees with the government. A spokesperson said YouTube is not a social media platform but a video-sharing website with educational and helpful content. They said it is used widely in schools and on television.
YouTube also said it was surprised by the government’s sudden change. The company believes the law is unclear and unfair, especially since YouTube was earlier expected to be exempt from the ban.
Other tech companies, like TikTok and Meta (owners of Facebook and Instagram), have also spoken out against the law. They say the rules are too vague and could be hard for families and platforms to follow.
The government says companies that break the law may have to pay large fines—up to AU$49.5 million. But some experts worry that the law will be hard to enforce and may not actually stop kids from using these platforms.
Despite the criticism, the Australian government says the law is the right step to protect children online. But for now, YouTube and other tech companies are not backing down.