YouTube fires back at eSafety commissioner’s push for platform’s inclusion in under-16s social media ban
Guardian1 day
Australia Mulls Including YouTube in Under-16 Social Media Ban
Above: The YouTube logo is displayed on a smartphone screen. Image copyright: Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The Spin
Opposition narrative
Grant is egregiously overreaching, placing her in direct opposition to the Prime Minister and turning sensible protections into pure nanny state meddling. Parents, educators, and children's entertainers all stated that they did not want YouTube — one of the few platforms with safe content for children — banned for minors. The government is going against the wishes of parents.
Pro-government narrative
The YouTube exemption is plainly preferential and makes no sense. YouTube is the most likely platform for children to see harmful material, and evidence suggests that this exemption was granted after heavy lobbying by the video-hosting site. YouTube has similar features to TikTok and others, and delivers the same addictive content. It's clear that YouTube must be part of the ban.