Overview

• Starting in December, under-16s will be prohibited from holding YouTube accounts though they can continue to watch videos without logging in.
• The YouTube Kids app remains the only YouTube service exempted from the age restriction.
• Platforms that fail to block minor account holders face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars for noncompliance.
• The government cited data showing four in ten Australian children reported harmful experiences on YouTube as part of its rationale.
• YouTube has called the decision a surprising reversal and maintains it is a video platform rather than a social network.