Alphabet’s Google has sounded alarms over Australia’s upcoming ban on social media use for anyone under 16, arguing the measure may prove more symbolic than effective — and could backfire.
During a parliamentary hearing in Sydney, Google representatives said the law, which takes effect in December, would be “extremely difficult to enforce” and unlikely to deliver on its promise of protecting children online. The legislation, a global first, forbids anyone under 16 from accessing social media platforms, though it doesn’t compel companies to verify age through IDs. Instead, platforms are expected to use artificial intelligence and behavioral data to detect minors — a method Google called unreliable and fraught with risks.
Rachel Lord, YouTube’s head of government affairs in Australia, told lawmakers that while the initiative was “well-intentioned,” it could produce “unintended consequences.”
“The law won’t just be nearly impossible to enforce,” she said, “it also doesn’t actually make kids safer online.”
The criticism underscores growing tension between governments and tech companies over youth safety regulations. Australia’s Online Safety Amendment Act, passed in late 2024, gave platforms a year to comply. Companies now face a December 10 deadline to shut down accounts belonging to users under 16.
In a twist that irked Google, YouTube was added to the list of regulated platforms in July — a reversal of its earlier exemption. Google insists YouTube is primarily a video-sharing service, not a social media network.
Lord said that rather than blocking access, the focus should be on equipping parents and children with stronger safety tools. “The solution isn’t to keep kids offline,” she argued. “It’s to make their time online safer.”
The Australian government maintains that the restrictions are essential to address the growing mental health impact of social media on young people. But as the deadline nears, critics warn that enforcing the law may prove far harder than drafting it.
