Australia will extend its social media ban for children under 16 to include YouTube, reversing a previous exemption. This decision comes despite YouTube, owned by Google, arguing it is not a social media platform and offers value to younger Australians.

• The ban, set to begin in December, will prevent teenagers from having accounts on YouTube, limiting them to viewing content only.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the government's commitment to protecting children from the "social harm" of social media.
• Tech companies face fines of up to A$50m ($32.5m; £25.7m) for non-compliance, requiring them to deactivate existing accounts and prevent new ones for underage users.