Youtube has taken out a full-page advertisement in The Australian today, making its case for an exemption from the government’s impending under-16 social media ban.
Last November, the federal government passed an amendment to the Online Safety Act, that restricts social media services — including Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok — to those aged 16 and older. The ban is due to come into effect on December 10 this year.
The government floated the idea of exempting Youtube from the ban several times through the process of drafting the amendment. In a discussion paper issued to major stakeholders in February it based the exemption on educational grounds.
This led to Meta and Tiktok slamming the government’s “closed door consultation” in making the exemption, pointing to the Albanese Government’s earlier commitment to transparency in the drafting of the code.
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In today’s full-page advertisement, Youtube argues the video service is “where teens come to learn” and “what teachers recommend.”
The ad references an August 2024 Ipsos study that found “82% of teachers surveyed in Australia say learning related content on Youtube helps students spend their online time in a positive way.”
It notes the platform’s safeguards to ensure children see age-appropriate content, and ends with the slogan: “Built for kids. Built for parents. Built for families.”
The campaign from Youtube comes after the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, recommended in late June the video platform be included in the social media ban, which will go into effect this December.
Inman Grant also used a National Press Club address later that same week to hit out at the platform.
“I talked about the persuasive design features – I mean Youtube has mastered those. That opaque algorithm is driving users down rabbit holes that they are powerless to fight against.
“You’ve got to think about the constant notifications. This is not a fair fight where our kids are concerned.”
Julie Inman Grant at the National Press Club
Youtube’s local public policy and government regulations senior manager Rachel Lord said at the time that Iman Grant’s comments were “in direct contradiction to the government’s decision to exempt Youtube from the ban,” adding “the government’s own research confirmed there was broad agreement that Youtube is suitable for younger users”.
Lord also reiterated that “Youtube is not a social media platform; it is a video-streaming platform with a library of free, high-quality content, and TV screens are increasingly the most popular place to watch.” She also slammed Iman Grant’s “inconsistent and contradictory advice” regarding the ban.
“We urge the Government to follow through on the public commitment it made to ensure young Australians can continue to access enriching content on Youtube.”
Mumbrella has reached out to Google to find out which mastheads other than The Australia the Youtube ad may have run in.