Login
iscover
Share this article on:
Powered by
MOMENTUM
MEDIA
Powered by MOMENTUMMEDIA
The Australian eSafety Commissioner is pushing for YouTube to be included in the upcoming social media ban legislation.
In November last year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a “world-leading” social media ban for teenagers under 16.
This would prevent under-16-year-old Australians from signing up to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and more. However, citing “health and education-related” reasons, the government said a number of social media apps would be exempt from the ban, including Google Classroom, Headspace, online games, messaging services, and YouTube.
With the ban due to roll out in December, eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant has asked the government to remove exemptions from the legislation, particularly focusing on YouTube.
Inman Grant argues that YouTube is among the most harmful online platforms used by children, stating that research suggests that 37 per cent of children aged 10 to 15 found harmful content on YouTube, a higher percentage than any other social media.
She also said that social media giants use “persuasive design features” to keep users online as long as possible, including notifications and algorithms to show content related to the user’s interests.
“This is not a fair fight where our kids are concerned, vis-a-vis social media sites,” Inman Grant said at the National Press Club in Sydney.
“YouTube has mastered those, opaque algorithms driving users down rabbit holes they’re powerless to fight against.”
However, Inman Grant said that YouTube could still be used in schools for educational purposes and that under-16s would be allowed to access the platform without logging in.
“I think what we’re trying to do here is harness the positives and still enable people to engage without the persuasive pull of these algorithms and technologies designed to make social media addictive, or if you’re looking for diet information, to further send information about bulimia and anorexia,” she said.
However, Alphabet-owned YouTube has fought back against the eSafety commissioner’s claims, stating that she ignored even government research that found that 69 per cent of parents believed YouTube was suitable for under-15s.
“In 2024, a survey found that a staggering 84 per cent of teachers in Australia use YouTube on at least a monthly basis in the classroom, with the same number saying it helps students continue learning outside the classroom as well,” YouTube Australia and New Zealand’s public policy and government relations senior manager Rachel Lord said.
“Today, the eSafety commissioner chose to ignore this data, the decision of the Australian government and other clear evidence from teachers and parents that YouTube is suitable for younger users by recommending the platform’s inclusion in Australia’s social media ban.”
Lord added that Inman Grant’s requests go against the government’s commitment and requested the government ignore her demands.
“We urge the government to follow through on the public commitment it made to ensure young Australians can continue to access enriching content on YouTube,” she said.
Be the first to hear the latest developments in the cyber industry.
