YouTube has cautioned that Australia’s plan to ban children under 16 from social media, while “well intentioned,” could have unintended consequences and fail to make young users safer online.

 

 

 

The warning came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government moves forward with landmark legislation set to take effect by the end of 2025, prohibiting minors from accessing platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube itself. Companies that breach the rules could face fines of up to AUS$49.5 million (US$32 million).

 

 

 

 

Speaking before a Senate committee on Monday, YouTube’s local spokeswoman, Rachel Lord, said the proposed ban “will not only be extremely difficult to enforce, it also does not fulfil its promise of making kids safer online.”

 

 

 

Lord described the bill as “well intentioned” but argued that removing children entirely from online spaces could do more harm than good. “Well-crafted legislation can be an effective tool to build on industry efforts to keep children and teens safer online,” she said. “But the solution to keeping kids safer online is not stopping them from being online.”

 

 

 

 

 

YouTube contends that it should not be classified as a social media platform under the new rules. “We are not a social media service and should be out of scope of this legislation,” Lord said.

 

 

 

While Australia has taken a leading role in global efforts to combat online harm, experts have criticized the pending law for its lack of clarity, warning that it may end up being largely symbolic. Several major platforms have described the proposal as “vague,” “problematic,” and “rushed.”

 

 

 

Under the plan, social media companies will not be required to verify the age of every user but must take “reasonable steps” to identify and deactivate underage accounts.

 

 

 

The legislation remains under review as the government faces growing pressure to balance child safety with practical enforcement and digital inclusion.