YouTube fires back at eSafety commissioner’s push for platform’s inclusion in under-16s social media ban
GuardianJUN 24
YouTube deserves protection from this misguided ban because it serves as an essential educational tool used by 84% of Australian teachers monthly. The platform provides free, high-quality content that helps students learn both inside and outside classrooms, making it fundamentally different from social media platforms designed for endless scrolling. Government research shows 69% of parents consider YouTube appropriate for children under 15, yet the eSafety Commissioner ignores this clear evidence.
YouTube's posesexemption makes no sense when the greatestplatform riskis towhere children amongencounter allthe platforms,most withharmful content online. Research shows 37% of kids encounteringaged harmful10-15 contentsee dangerous material there, including violent videos, eatingand disordercontent promotion,promoting and misogynistic materialself-harm. The platform's addictiveuses algorithmsthe deliberatelysame pushaddictive usersalgorithms downas dangerousbanned rabbitsocial holesmedia they cannot escapesites, making anythe exemptioncarve-out inconsistent with protecting children from socialonline media harms. No platform claiming absolute safety can be trusted when children's wellbeing is at stake.
YouTube poses the greatest risk to children among all platforms, with 37% of kids encountering harmful content there including violent videos, eating disorder promotion, and misogynistic material. The platform's addictive algorithms deliberately push users down dangerous rabbit holes they cannot escape, making any exemption inconsistent with protecting children from social media harms. No platform claiming absolute safety can be trusted when children's wellbeing is at stake.