Sydney: Youtube has confirmed that it will follow Australia’s new law that bans children under the age of 16 from having social media accounts. The company said it will start applying the rule from December 10.
Under the new system, users younger than 16 in Australia will be signed out of their accounts and will lose access to account based features. This means they will no longer be able to comment, like videos, subscribe to channels or upload content. However, they will still be allowed to watch videos without logging in.
Australian lawmakers introduced the rule after long debates about the impact of social media on young people. The government said the law is meant to protect children from online bullying, addiction and harmful content. Companies that do not follow the new policy may face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars or a percentage of their global revenue.
Youtube had earlier raised concerns that the ban might have unintended effects. The company argued that the safety systems designed for young users only work when a child is logged in and supervised. By forcing minors to use Youtube without accounts, some protections such as filtering and parental controls may no longer function properly.
Other major platforms including TikTok, Instagram and Facebook have also been told to comply with the rules. Several companies are still working with the Australian government to understand how enforcement will work and how age verification systems will be carried out.
Parents and child safety groups have had mixed reactions. Some welcomed the move as a necessary step to reduce online risks for teenagers. Others questioned whether the law will be effective, noting that children may try to bypass age checks or move to platforms that are harder to regulate.
The upcoming changes mark one of the strictest approaches to youth social media use anywhere in the world. The Australian government says it will continue to monitor the rollout and may adjust the system if problems arise.
For now, platforms and families are preparing for a major shift in how young people access online content in the country.