YouTube has been officially included in Australia’s national social media ban for under 16s, despite lobbying from Google and backlash from The Wiggles. This video includes ACM-produced voiceover powered by AI.
00:00YouTube will be banned for under-16s in Australia from December 10, 2025,
00:06after the federal government confirmed it would be included in sweeping new social media restrictions.
00:11Young people under the age of 16 will not be able to have accounts on YouTube.
00:18They will also not be able to have accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, amongst other platforms.
00:27The Google-owned platform had lobbied for an exemption, arguing it was a video streaming service, rather than social media.
00:34The Wiggles' chief executive also lobbied against the move, arguing it would limit access to safe, educational content for young viewers.
00:43It was Wiggles management, not individual members of our cherished national icon, the Wiggles.
00:49We're not here to sledge the Wiggles.
00:51We love the Wiggles.
00:52Let's be very clear here.
00:53We love the Wiggles.
00:54My government is pro-Wiggles.
00:56Pro-Wiggles.
00:56Platforms will be fined up to $49.5 million if they fail to take reasonable steps to verify users' ages and remove underage accounts.
01:06Parents will no longer be able to give consent to create accounts for children under 16.
01:11Kids will still be able to watch videos while logged out, and YouTube Kids will remain accessible, as it does not allow communication between users.
