YouTube will be included in Australia's ban on social media for teenagers.

Australia will include YouTube in the social media ban for children under 16, marking a shift in officials' attitudes as the Google-owned video site was initially not included in the legislation. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Anneka Wells will confirm this decision on Wednesday. The ban will take effect by the end of 2025. Despite the flexibility in adjusting the list of companies that must comply allowed by the legislation, excluding YouTube had angered its competitors Meta Platforms Inc. and Snap Inc. In April of this year, it was revealed that the then-Communications Minister Michelle Rowland had privately promised an exemption to the video site, further fueling discontent from all sides.