Melbourne: The Australian government on Wednesday announced that YouTube will be among the social media platforms required to ensure account holders are at least 16 years old starting December 10, reversing a position it had taken months earlier.

YouTube had initially been exempted in November 2023 when Parliament passed world-first legislation banning children under 16 from joining platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X.

Communications Minister Anika Wells released the official rules outlining which services are defined as “age-restricted social media platforms” and which will avoid the age cap.

Under the new rules, platforms that fail to take “responsible steps” to prevent underage access could face penalties of up to 50 million Australian dollars (USD 33 million), although the exact compliance measures remain unspecified.

Wells defended including YouTube in the ban and said the government would not back down in the face of potential legal threats from the platform's US-based parent company, Alphabet Inc.

“The evidence cannot be ignored that four out of 10 Australian kids report that their most recent harm was on YouTube,” Wells told reporters. “We will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the wellbeing of Australian kids.”

Children will still be able to view content on YouTube but will not be allowed to hold personal accounts.

YouTube, in response, said the move contradicts the government's earlier commitment to exclude the platform from the ban. “We share the government's goal of addressing and reducing online harms. Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video-sharing platform, not social media,” the company said, adding it would engage with the government and assess next steps.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia will raise the issue at a United Nations forum in New York in September, seeking global backing for restricting children's access to social media.

“I know from discussions with other leaders that they are considering the impact of social media on young people in their respective nations,” he said. “This is not just an Australian experience.”

Last year, the government commissioned an evaluation of age-assurance technologies to explore mechanisms for restricting children's access. Although the final report is still awaited, Wells clarified that users won't be required to upload personal ID documents like passports or driver's licences.

“Platforms have to provide an alternative to personal identification. These platforms already know who we are, what we do, and when we do it,” she said.

Apps and platforms used for online gaming, messaging, education, and health services are exempted from the restrictions, as they are deemed less harmful to children.

The age limit aims to reduce negative impacts such as addictive platform design, social isolation, sleep disruption, mental and physical health issues, and exposure to harmful content, according to government documents.