The Albanese Labor Government is backing Australian families, parents and kids by announcing today YouTube will be included in its world-leading under-16 social media laws.
Delaying access to social media, including YouTube, until the age of 16 will protect young Australians at a critical stage of their development, giving them three more years to build real world connections and online resilience.
Following extensive consultation and advice, age-restricted social media platforms will face fines of up to $49.5 million for failing to take responsible steps to prevent underage account holders onto their services.
Age-restricted social media platforms will include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube, amongst other platforms.
Informed by advice from the eSafety Commissioner, the Online Safety (Age-Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules 2025 tabled today specify which types of online services will not be captured by the social media legislation, including online gaming, messaging apps, health and education services.
These types of online services have been excluded from the new minimum age obligations because they pose fewer social media harms to under 16s, or are regulated under different laws.
From 10 December 2025, all services that meet the definition of ‘age-restricted social media platform’ in the Act, and are not excluded in the rules, will be subject to the social media minimum age law.
Age restricted social media accounts are defined as services that allow users to interact and post material.
The Government is proud to be on the side of families.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
“Our Government is making it clear – we stand on the side of families.
Social media has a social responsibility and there is no doubt that Australian kids are being negatively impacted by online platforms so I'm calling time on it.
Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications Anika Wells
“The Albanese Government is giving kids a reprieve from the persuasive and pervasive pull of social media while giving parents peace of mind.
We want kids to know who they are before platforms assume who they are.
There is no one perfect solution when it comes to keeping young Australians safer online – but the social media minimum age will make a significantly positive difference to their wellbeing.
The rules are not a set and forget, they are a set and support.
There are heavy penalties for companies who fail to take reasonable steps to prevent underage account holders onto their services of up to $49.5 million.
“There's a place for social media, but there's not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children.”