Julie Inman Grant, the e-Safety Commissioner, has highlighted the urgent need for a reevaluation of children’s access to social media platforms, particularly YouTube. Inman Grant points out research finding that children were more likely to encounter harmful content on YouTube compared to any other platform. In response, the Australian government is considering a social media ban on platforms to improve safety for children aged 16 and under.
Come December, that is exactly what will happen with the proposed legislation. Its goal is to rein in dangerous social media algorithms. With this new rule, platforms would be liable to pay for significant damages. If they fail to follow due diligence measures in preventing minors from signing up, they could be penalized with fines reaching $50 million. This massive policy shift has sent tech titans like Uber and Lyft into a tailspin. For its part, Google is asking for more specificity on what the government plans to do.
In response, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has drawn a very hard line against Google’s attempt to influence the decision-making process. He stated, “The minister will make these assessments … independent of any these threats that are made by the social media companies.” As regards this specific platform, Albanese underscored that social media companies need to start taking their societal obligations seriously. “I say to them that social media has a social responsibility,” he added.
Inman Grant’s recommendations could have a far-reaching effect on big players such as Google and other social media platforms. She stressed that the new law will not prevent kids from finding age-inappropriate material on YouTube or similar platforms. It will stop them from making their own accounts.
“The new law will only restrict children under the age of 16 from having their own accounts – not accessing content on YouTube or any other service through links from the school or in a ‘logged-out’ state,” – e-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant
Despite these clarifications, a spokesperson for YouTube defended the platform’s position, stating that “YouTube is a video sharing platform, not a social media service, that offers benefit and value to younger Australians.” This nuanced distinction that she made points to the larger confusion and discussion surrounding the definition of social media and how children engage with content online.
The Australian government’s potential policy reversal reflects a growing concern about children’s safety online. Inman Grant states that YouTube has a major influence on children’s exposure to detrimental content. This decision raises broader questions about how online platforms act to protect minors on their sites.
As Senate negotiations draw to a close, advocates on both sides are watching the process very carefully. This policy has the potential to radically re-shape the role of social media in Australia. It should, for once, lead the world in making standards for child safety online.
