Australia’s online safety regulator is pushing to extend the social media ban for under-16s to include YouTube, after Google-owned platforms ranked highest in exposing children to online harms. Legislation passed last year already prohibits users under 16 from creating accounts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat.
The eSafety Commissioner has urged the government to revoke YouTube’s exemption, citing a high volume of reports from children encountering harmful content on the platform.
However, educators have pushed back, arguing that YouTube offers valuable educational and entertainment content for young users and should not be treated the same as other social media platforms.
In response, YouTube criticised the Commissioner’s stance as “contradictory,” claiming it conflicts with the existing legislation.
