Australia has expanded its social media restrictions by banning individuals under the age of 16 from creating YouTube accounts, effective December 2025. This move is part of a broader effort to address harmful content frequently accessed by teenagers on the platform. The ban removes previous exemptions and marks a world-first in social media regulation. The policy follows similar age-related online restrictions introduced recently in other countries, including the United Kingdom, which implemented age checks for minors online, and the United States, where YouTube is rolling out AI-based age verification. The Australian government’s approach has sparked debate, with some advocating for safer online environments rather than outright bans. Concurrently, France is intensifying its regulation of adult content websites by threatening to block five major pornographic sites if they fail to implement age verification measures.