Google Warns Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban ‘Unworkable and Risky’

Google has poured cold water on the Albanese government’s social media ban for under-16s, warning that it would be “extremely difficult to enforce” and could end up making children less safe online.

Appearing alongside Microsoft before a Senate inquiry on age verification and digital safety, Google executives argued that the plan—expected to include YouTube—would strip away existing protections built into its platforms and remove vital parental controls.

“The government’s plan to ban social media use for under-16s may be well intentioned, but in practice, it risks unintended consequences,” said Rachel Lord, Google’s senior manager for government affairs and public policy in Australia and New Zealand.

“The legislation will not only be extremely difficult to enforce, it also does not fulfil its promise of making kids safer online.”

YouTube ‘Not Social Media’: Google

Google pushed back against YouTube’s inclusion in the ban, arguing it is not a social media platform.

“This law fundamentally misunderstands what YouTube is,” Lord said. “It’s a video streaming platform that Australians use as a content library and a learning resource—it is not social media.”

She warned that denying children the ability to hold supervised accounts would remove key safety features such as autoplay restrictions, “take a break” reminders, bedtime prompts, and bans on personalised advertising.

Forcing kids into a logged-out state, she said, “removes the very parental controls and safety filters built to protect them.”

The ban, due to come into effect on Dec. 10, could also “deny parents the ability to manage what their children see online,” she added.

The company argued that a safer internet should be built through parental empowerment, not blanket prohibition.

“The solution to keeping kids safer online is not stopping them from being online—it’s about making sure platforms have relevant guardrails in place and empowering parents with the tools and confidence they need,” a Google representative said.

Executives highlighted the company’s investment in age-appropriate products and supervision tools that let parents set content limits, saying these systems are more effective than bans that leave children exposed to unfiltered content in a logged-out state.

Policy Reversal and Lobbying Questions

Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson pressed Google on whether it had lobbied the U.S. government about YouTube’s inclusion ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s upcoming Washington visit.

Google’s director of government affairs, Stefanee Lovett, confirmed the company had briefed colleagues in the United States “on a range of issues” being debated in Australia but did not say whether the matter was raised directly with the Trump administration.

“We’ve talked to some of our colleagues about the issues we’re dealing with in Australia so they understand our position,” Lovett said.

Henderson accused the government of “betraying young people” by reversing its earlier position to exempt YouTube from the ban.

“The Coalition is getting a lot of complaints about this reversal,” she said.

Lord also confirmed that then-Communications Minister Michelle Rowland had written to Google in December 2023, assuring the company that YouTube would remain excluded from the ban—an assurance also repeated in Rowland’s second reading speech introducing the bill.

Google Urges ‘Well-Crafted’ Regulation

While opposing the ban, Google said it supports the government’s broader goal of online safety. It urged a more “well-crafted” legislative approach that complements, rather than duplicates, existing frameworks.

Executives argued that Australia’s overlapping digital safety laws—particularly those under the Online Safety Act—have become “complex and duplicative.”

The company called for the independent review of the Act to be prioritised to ensure clearer, evidence-based protections.

“We do think there is a role for well-crafted legislation,” a spokesperson said. “But it must work with, not against, existing safety systems.”

Absence of Other Tech Giants

While Google and Microsoft faced questioning, TikTok, Meta, and Snap declined to appear before the committee, despite reportedly meeting with Communications Minister Anika Wells on the same day.

National Party Senator Ross Cadell criticised their absence and asked the chair to take action.

Senator Young confirmed that the Senate may consider compelling their attendance.

“It’s notable who is not here,” she said. “Australians deserve answers from all major platforms about how they are protecting young users.”

The Senate inquiry into the under-16 social media ban continues next week, with appearances expected from the eSafety Commissioner, privacy experts, and youth advocacy groups.