Google Says Child Social Media Ban Hard to Enforce
Google says Australia’s child social media ban is hard to enforce and may cause unintended effects as the country moves to protect kids online.
Google Calls Australia’s Child Social Media Ban “Hard to Enforce”
Tech giant Google has raised concerns over Australia’s new law that aims to ban social media use for children under 16. According to the company, the legislation—set to take effect in December 2025—will be “extremely difficult to enforce” and may not improve online safety as intended.
Australia’s Bold Move on Online Safety
With this law, Australia will become the first country in the world to prohibit social media access for users under 16. The government introduced the new online safety amendment in 2024, citing the negative impact of platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram on teenagers’ mental health.
Under the new rules, social media companies are not required to verify users’ ages directly. Instead, they must use AI-driven age estimation systems and analyze behavioral data to determine whether users meet the age limit.
Google’s Response to the Policy
During an online safety hearing in Australia’s Parliament, Rachel Lord, Google’s public policy manager for YouTube, stated that the law, though well-intentioned, is “unlikely to ensure real protection for children.”
She added, “It will be difficult to enforce and may even lead to unintended outcomes.” Google believes that while online safety is crucial, blocking social media entirely is not the most effective solution.
YouTube’s Position in the Debate
Earlier this year, the Australian government included YouTube under the new law, reversing a previous exemption due to its educational popularity. Google, however, argues that YouTube is a video-sharing platform, not a traditional social media network, and should not be regulated in the same way as apps like TikTok or Snapchat.
Steph Lovett, Google’s Australian affairs representative, mentioned that colleagues in the United States are closely monitoring the situation. This topic is expected to arise during Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House next week.
A Need for Smarter Digital Safety
Rachel Lord further emphasized that effective legislation should focus on digital literacy, parental awareness, and technical safety tools rather than complete restriction. “Protecting children online doesn’t mean keeping them offline,” she said. “It means empowering them and their guardians to use technology safely.”
The Bigger Picture
The Australian government’s primary concern remains the mental health effects of social media on children and teens. Platforms will be required to close all accounts belonging to users under 16 by December 10, 2025.
While the goal is to make the internet safer for young people, experts—including those from Google—warn that overregulation could limit access to educational content and create loopholes rather than true safety.
The global tech community continues to watch closely as Australia tests the limits of digital governance with what could become a landmark case in online safety regulation.
