Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and X to Be Banned for Children Under 16

Australia has backtracked on an earlier promise to exclude YouTube in its social media ban for children under 16.

The Labor government said Wednesday the site, which is owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, will be subject to the same rules as other leading platforms – Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X – under legislation due to come into effect in December.

The ban puts the onus on social media platforms to prevent children under 16 from having an account on their sites, or risk fines of nearly 50 million Australian dollars ($32 million)

The government said the decision to include YouTube was influenced by a survey released by Australia’s independent online regulator, the eSafety Commission, this month that found 37% of children surveyed had reported seeing harmful content on the site.

Harmful content includes sexist, misogynistic or hateful ideas, dangerous online challenges or fight videos, or content that encourages unhealthy eating or exercise habits.