YouTube has warned that Australia’s new social media ban for under-16s, starting 10 December, will make the platform less safe for children. The ban will automatically sign out anyone under 16 from their YouTube accounts, removing parental controls like content settings and blocking channels. Children can still watch videos but without personalized protections. Rachel Lord, public policy senior manager at Google and YouTube Australia, called the law “rushed regulation that misunderstands our platform” and said it “will not fulfil its promise to make kids safer online.” She added that parents and educators share these concerns. Communications Minister Anika Wells responded by calling YouTube’s warning “outright weird.” She said, "If YouTube is reminding us all that it is not safe ... that's a problem that YouTube needs to fix." The law, under the Social Media Minimum Age Act, removes features like reminders to take breaks since they only work for users with accounts. YouTube Kids remains outside the ban. The government reversed an earlier exemption for YouTube after the eSafety Commissioner said it was the most cited platform where children aged 10 to 15 encountered harmful content. Besides YouTube, other platforms in the ban include Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, Twitch, Threads, Reddit, and Kick. These sites must deactivate under-16 accounts and block new sign-ups or face fines up to A$49.5 million. The government is also watching apps like Lemon8 and Yope, which have become popular with teens, to see if they fall under the rules. Ms Wells said some problems are expected early on but stressed, "Regulation, and cultural change, takes time. Takes patience." She highlighted the risks of young users being hooked on social media algorithms that steal their attention. Tech firms must report every six months on under-16 accounts. Google is said to be considering legal action against the ban but has not commented publicly.