Social media laws for under-16s

The Australian government has officially added YouTube to the list of platforms covered by its world-first legislation that restricts access to social media for users under the age of 16. This move is part of a broader initiative to delay access to social media in order to protect young Australians during a critical stage in their emotional and psychological development.

Initially, YouTube had been exempted when the legislation was passed in November 2023. However, this exemption has now been reversed following a formal recommendation by the national internet regulator. The eSafety Commissioner had urged the government to reconsider, pointing to findings from a national survey which revealed that 37 per cent of minors reported exposure to harmful content on YouTube – a higher rate than any other social media platform.