On Monday, Oct. 13, Alphabet-owned Google said that Australia would find it “extremely difficult” to enforce a law banning social media use for those under 16, warning that the measure would not necessarily make children safer online. Governments and tech companies worldwide are monitoring Australia closely, as it will become the first country to block social media for users under 16 starting in December.

Instead of requiring age verification, platforms will rely on AI and behavioral data to estimate users’ ages. At a parliamentary hearing on online safety, YouTube’s senior manager of government affairs in Australia, Rachel Lord, said the government’s plan, though well-intentioned, could have “unintended consequences.” She added that the law would be difficult to enforce and would not achieve its goal of protecting children.

When asked about lobbying efforts in Washington ahead of a meeting between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and U.S. President Donald Trump, Google Australia’s government affairs director Stef Lovett said U.S. colleagues were aware of the challenges in Australia. Earlier this year, Australia added YouTube to the list of platforms covered by the legislation, after initially exempting it due to its popularity with teachers, following complaints from other tech firms. Google maintains that YouTube is a video-sharing platform, not a social media site.

Lord emphasized that while strong legislation can support efforts to protect children online, simply blocking access is not the solution. Instead, she advocates for online safety tools and giving parents control over their children’s digital experiences. Australia passed its Online Safety Amendment in November 2024, citing concerns over social media’s impact on youth mental health. Companies have a year to comply, with a Dec. 10 deadline to deactivate accounts of underage users.