Another twist has been added to Australia’s contentious youth social media ban, after the eSafety Commissioner called for YouTube to be included alongside other social media apps.
YouTube was previously considered exempt when the federal government’s proposal passed the upper house last year. At the time, the video-sharing platform was considered exempt in part due to its use in education. Other platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, would be subject to the federal government’s legislation preventing children under the age of 16 from accessing social media sites.
Now, Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, contends that YouTube is one of the most harmful social media platforms. ABC News quoted Inman Grant as saying that YouTube is “the most prevalent social media site” children use.
“And when we asked where they were experiencing harm and the kinds of harms they were experiencing, the most prevalent place where young Australians experienced harm was on YouTube — almost 37 per cent,” Inman Grant said.
“This ranges from misogynistic content to hateful material, to violent fighting videos, online challenges, disordered eating, suicidal ideation.”
As a result, the eSafety Commissioner has advised the current communications minister, Anika Wells, that YouTube should be considered part of the social media ban. On the original exemption for YouTube, Inman Grant said that “providing a specific carve out” would “be inconsistent with the purpose of the Act.”
The eSafety Commissioner also requested more clarity over Australia’s youth social media ban, which is set to begin by December 2025. Some platforms are considered exempt because they provide messaging services or access to online gaming.
Experts previously argued that online gaming should be exempt because of its importance to children, while others believe that education is more important than an outright ban.
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