Alphabet’s GOOGL Rises 0.4% Despite 20.86% Drop in Volume to $6.37B Ranking 10th in Market Activity as Australia Moves to Ban YouTube for Minors

On July 30, 2025, Alphabet (GOOGL) closed with a 0.40% gain as trading volume fell 20.86% to $6.37 billion, ranking 10th in market activity. The stock’s performance coincided with regulatory developments in Australia targeting youth social media usage. The country’s government announced YouTube, owned by Alphabet, will be included in a December 2025 ban prohibiting children under 16 from accessing social media platforms. The policy mandates platforms implement age verification systems, with non-compliance risking fines up to $32 million. Alphabet expressed disappointment over YouTube’s inclusion, noting it reverses prior commitments to exclude the service from the ban.

Alphabet’s response highlighted concerns about the law’s impact on its business, emphasizing that YouTube’s algorithms and content ecosystem were designed for broader audiences. The company pledged to continue engaging with regulators while reviewing potential legal and operational adjustments. Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells framed the policy as a response to 150,000 parental complaints, stressing the government’s focus on mitigating online harms for minors. The eSafety Commission cited 37% of surveyed children reporting exposure to harmful content on YouTube as a key rationale for the inclusion.

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