YouTube Confirms Ban on Under-16 Accounts as Social Media Age Limit Takes Effect

Australia’s new social media age limit law has pushed YouTube to lock out users aged 15 and under, marking a major shift in how the platform operates for young audiences. YouTube confirmed it will comply with the YouTube ban in Australia, meaning anyone under 16 will soon lose access to key account features. While the company says the under-16 restriction is a “disappointing update”, the government argues the change is crucial for child safety online and reducing exposure to harmful content under the new teen social media rules and online safety law.

Starting December 10, the social media age limit rule requires YouTube to automatically log out users under 16. Young viewers will still be able to watch videos without signing in, but they will no longer be able to like, subscribe or comment. This part of the YouTube ban in Australia also affects underage creators who are suddenly unable to publish or manage their own content. The government says this step strengthens child safety online, though YouTube insists it will limit protections against harmful content for teens, creating new concerns around the online safety law.

YouTube has not yet revealed how it plans to verify the age of every user affected by the social media age limit. The company also warned parents that features such as parental controls will no longer work once children are logged out. As part of the under-16 restriction, YouTube says this could unintentionally weaken child safety online, since restrictions and filters rely on signed-in accounts. This conflict between user controls and government policy is now at the centre of the debate around the teen social media rules and the broader online safety law.

Communications Minister Anika Wells criticised YouTube’s response, saying the platform itself often highlights how unsafe it is for young people while logged out. She added that if YouTube openly acknowledges exposure to harmful content for minors, the company must play a more active role in improving child safety online. Her comments reflect growing global attention to the YouTube ban in Australia and how governments can enforce a stricter social media age limit under teen social media rules.

The online safety law carries heavy penalties, with fines going up to A$49.5 million for any company found allowing under-16s to hold accounts. Meta, TikTok and Snapchat have already committed to comply with the YouTube ban in Australia and the broader social media age limit. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s X and Reddit have yet to confirm whether they will follow the under-16 restriction, prompting more concerns around child safety online and the risks of harmful content under the new teen social media rules.

Other countries are closely monitoring the rollout of the online safety law, which may become a global model for protecting children from harmful content. With the YouTube ban in Australia generating intense debate, tech companies worldwide now face new pressure to rethink access for younger users. Supporters believe the social media age limit could significantly boost child safety online, while critics argue it limits digital inclusion for teens under the growing under-16 restriction.

According to the eSafety Commissioner, YouTube currently has 325,000 accounts belonging to Australians aged 13 to 15. Snapchat leads this demographic group with 440,000 underage accounts, followed by Instagram with 350,000. Reports show that more than one-third of users aged 10 to 15 have encountered harmful content on YouTube, reinforcing government concerns and the need for the online safety law, the social media age limit, and strengthened teen social media rules aimed at enhancing child safety online.

YouTube shared another “disappointing update” with millions of users and creators across Australia, confirming that the under-16 restriction will be enforced within days. This firmly ends the earlier debate about whether YouTube should be included in the YouTube ban in Australia, which initially allowed exemptions due to its educational value. Now, with the online safety law in full effect, the platform must follow the same social media age limit as its competitors, as the government moves to reduce harmful content and improve child safety online under the new teen social media rules.