YouTube warns Australia’s social media ban could make children less safe

YouTube has said Australia’s new laws banning under-16s from creating accounts on its platform will strip away parental controls, making children “less safe.” From 10 December, teens will still be able to watch videos, but parents will lose the ability to manage content settings or block channels.

Government defends new regulations
Communications Minister Anika Wells dismissed YouTube’s warnings as “outright weird,” saying the platform itself should address safety issues. The Social Media Minimum Age Act, which also targets rising teen use of apps like Lemon8 and Yope, aims to protect children from harmful content online.

YouTube criticizes “rushed” legislation
The platform stated it would comply but argued the law undermines over a decade of parental controls and safety measures. Rachel Lord, YouTube Australia’s public policy manager, said the ban misunderstands how young Australians use the service and warned it may fail to make kids safer online.