YouTube will be included in Australia’s social media ban for children under 16 years of age, an about-face by officials after the Google-owned video site had initially been left out of the legislation.

YouTube joins Meta Platforms Inc’s Facebook and Instagram, Snap Inc’s Snapchat, and X in the ban on underage account holders, which is due to come into force on Dec 10, the government said in a statement.

“We know that social media is doing social harm,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at a press conference Wednesday. “We know this is not the only solution and there’s more to do. But it will make a difference.”

The age-restricted social media platforms face fines of as much as A$49.5 million ($32.2 million) for failing to stop underage account holders users on their services, the government said.

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Though the legislation allows Australian authorities the flexibility to change the list of firms that must comply, YouTube’s exclusion had riled rivals. That was further fueled by April’s revelation that then-Communications Minister Michelle Rowland had made a personal pledge of exemption to the video site’s boss.

YouTube shares Australia’s goal of reducing online harms and will continue to engage with the government, a spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

“The government’s announcement today reverses a clear, public commitment to exclude YouTube from this ban,” the spokesperson said, adding that YouTube’s position is that it is a video sharing platform, not social media.

Australia’s online regulator called on authorities to reverse YouTube’s immunity last month, with eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant saying data show it’s young Australians’ most-used social media platform — and biggest source of harm.

READ  MORE: Australia regulator and YouTube spar over under-16s social media ban

Online gaming, messaging, education and health apps are excluded from the ban.

“These types of online services have been excluded from the minimum age obligations because they pose fewer social media harms to under-16s,” Communications Minister Anika Wells told the media briefing.

YouTube Kids, with content geared to children and parental control settings — will also remain spared from the legislation, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.