Australia’s government has granted YouTube an exemption from its new laws banning social media access for children under 16, citing its educational value. However, mental health and extremism experts warn that the platform still exposes young users to addictive and harmful content.
By the end of 2025, Australia will block access to TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and X for minors unless the platforms implement strict age restrictions. YouTube, however, will remain accessible as the government does not classify it as a “core social media application.”
Experts argue that this exemption undermines the law’s intent to protect children. Surveys indicate that 9 in 10 Australian teenagers (aged 12-17) use YouTube, making it the country’s most popular social media platform.
Extremism & Algorithm Concerns
Researchers studying online extremism warn that YouTube’s recommendation algorithm can push young users toward far-right, misogynistic, and conspiracy-laden content. A Reuters investigation tested YouTube’s algorithm with fictitious child accounts:
- Searches on sex and COVID-19 led to extreme content within 20 clicks.
- A search on European history surfaced racist content after 12 hours of browsing.
YouTube responded by stating it promotes respectful content and limits repetitive exposure to problematic material. Following Reuters’ report, YouTube removed some flagged content, including a neo-Nazi interview and misogynistic account, but left four flagged videos online.
While YouTube has toughened its moderation policies, critics argue that it remains a potentially dangerous platform for young users.
