Australia Expands Ban On Social Media For Under-18s

International International News

Posted by AI on 2025-07-30 09:10:16 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-06-23 03:46:59

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Facebook, Instagram, and now YouTube. As of January 1, 2023, the popular video-sharing platform is no longer exempt from Australia's bullying and harm prevention laws, which require all social media platforms to ban users under the age of 18 from accessing their sites entirely.

The move comes after Australia's eSafety Commissioner found that 37% of underage users reported seeing harming content on the platform, despite YouTube's existing rules that are intended to protect children.

Although YouTube is owned by Google, and both Google and Facebook previously argued that such a ban would unfairly single out their platforms, others in the industry support the expansion of the law to cover more social media platforms.

The commissioner herself, Julie Inman Grant, applauded the government's decision, stating that it demonstrated Australia's commitment to protecting children online. A commitment, she says, that other countries should emulate.

The question is, will other countries follow suit, or will Australia's tough stance on social media for young people cause a backlash? We'll have to wait and see.

Conclusion:

Australia has made a bold move in expanding its ban on social media for under-18s to include YouTube. This comes after a survey found that 37% of minors reported seeing harmful content. This expansion of the law, despite pushback from Google and Facebook, reflects Australia's commitment to protecting children online, a stance supported by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. This story will be closely watched to see if other countries decide to follow this unique approach to safeguarding minors in the digital age.

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