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ANKARA: Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has recommended that YouTube be included in the federal government’s social media ban for individuals under the age of 16, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported, citing local media on Tuesday.
Australia is expected to ban access to platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Snapchat for those under 16, with a final decision to be made by the Communications Minister, according to local broadcaster SBS News.
In November last year, Australia became the first country in the world to pass legislation prohibiting children from accessing social media.
The new laws, which are set to come into effect at the end of this year, will bar anyone aged 16 or below from using the platforms.
YouTube was initially excluded from the draft legislation, but Grant has now recommended that no platform be specifically exempted.
“Our recommendation was that no specific platform be exempted because the relative risks and harms can change at any given moment,” she said, in remarks addressing the online harms facing children and the upcoming social media restrictions.
“I think any platform that says they are absolutely safe is absolutely spinning words,” she added, speaking at the National Press Club.
Grant clarified that the recommendation would not prevent teachers from using educational YouTube content in classrooms while logged out of the platform.
Google, which owns YouTube, responded by stating that the platform is used widely in Australian classrooms and urged the government to allow young people continued access.
“YouTube is not a social media platform; it is a video streaming platform with a library of free, high-quality content. TV screens are increasingly the most popular place to watch,” a company spokesperson said.
According to new research, seven in 10 children have encountered content associated with harm – including misogynistic content, hate material, and videos promoting disordered eating.
“YouTube was the most frequently cited platform, with almost four in 10 children reporting exposure to harmful content there,” Grant said.
The study also found that 36 per cent of children most recently experienced online abuse from their peers on YouTube, while another 36 per cent experienced bullying via messaging apps and 26 per cent on gaming platforms.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
