YouTube to Enforce Australia’s Under-16 Ban in Sweeping Child Safety Move
Australia's aggressive new child protection law has forced YouTube's hand. Starting December 10, 2025, the platform will automatically log out all users under 16—a tectonic shift for social media giants operating Down Under. The mandate comes with teeth: noncompliant platforms face stiff penalties under the 2024 Online Safety Act.
Google's video subsidiary initially balked at the regulations but ultimately capitulated. The MOVE signals broader industry acquiescence to global child safety pressures. TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat now face identical requirements as Australia weaponizes its digital sovereignty.
Age verification firms like Yoti and k-ID stand to benefit from the regulatory cascade. Their biometric and document-checking technologies are becoming essential infrastructure as platforms scramble for compliance solutions.
