- YouTube will restrict users under 16 from signing in starting December 10
- Logged-out users can view content but cannot like, comment, subscribe, or post
- Google warns the law may make Australian kids less safe online
Google’s YouTube issued a “disappointing update” to millions of Australian users and content creators on Wednesday, announcing it will comply with a landmark national law by blocking users under 16 from signing into their accounts within days.
The move ends a standoff between the tech giant and the Australian government, which had initially exempted YouTube from the age restriction due to its educational uses. Google had previously stated it was seeking legal guidance on how to respond.
“Viewers must now be 16 or older to sign into YouTube,” the company said in a statement.
“This is a disappointing update to share. This law will not fulfil its promise to make kids safer online and will, in fact, make Australian kids less safe on YouTube.”
The Australian law is being closely watched internationally as other jurisdictions consider similar age-based regulations, potentially setting a global precedent for how U.S.-based tech giants manage child safety while maintaining access to digital services. The government said the measure addresses evidence that platforms are failing to adequately protect children from harmful content.
SIGNED OUT
YouTube confirmed that users under 16 will be automatically signed out starting December 10. Logged-out users will still be able to view content, but they will no longer be able to subscribe, like, comment, or post—effectively restricting underage content creators from using the platform. YouTube has not explained how it will verify users’ ages.
The company also reiterated its position that the ban could reduce online safety, noting in emails to parents that “parental controls only work when your pre-teen or teen is signed in, so the settings you’ve chosen will no longer apply.”
Communications Minister Anika Wells, speaking in Canberra, criticized the move, saying it was “weird that YouTube is always at pains to remind us all how unsafe their platform is in a logged-out state.” She added: “If YouTube is highlighting that content for age-restricted users is unsafe, that’s a problem YouTube needs to fix.”
Under the law, platforms are prohibited from allowing under-16s to hold accounts, with penalties of up to A$49.5 million ($32.5 million) for violations. Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat have already committed to compliance. Of the platforms named in the law, only Elon Musk’s X and Reddit have not publicly confirmed adherence.
Wells noted that the tech landscape is “dynamic,” and the government expects its list of regulated platforms to expand as users migrate to new services.
According to the eSafety Commissioner, YouTube has 325,000 Australian accounts held by users aged 13 to 15, ranking behind Snapchat (440,000) and Instagram (350,000). More than one-third of Australians aged 10 to 15 reported encountering harmful content on YouTube, the highest among all platforms surveyed.
