It Wont Make Kids Safer: YouTube Warns Against Australias New Under-16 Social Media Rules

YouTube says new age rules will force young people off signed-in accounts, removing parental controls and wiping young creators’ channels until they turn 16.Bianca Navarro, 10, watches YouTube at home in western Sydney on Oct. 30, 2025. David GRAY/AFP via Getty Images12/3/2025|Updated: 12/3/2025Online video platform YouTube has announced a raft of changes set to take hold as it prepares to comply with the Australian government’s new Social Media Minimum Age Act.From Dec. 10, age-restricted social media platforms will be required to prevent under-16s from registering accounts.Crystal-Rose Jones is a reporter based in Australia. She previously worked at News Corp for 16 years as a senior journalist and editor.Author’s Selected Articles