Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has submitted key recommendations to Minister for Communications Anika Wells regarding the draft rules for the upcoming ban on social media use by children under 16.
These rules, set to be formalised before the end of the year, aim to help platforms, parents, and young users prepare for the changes. Less than two weeks ago, Minister Wells requested advice from the Commissioner, who responded within seven days with five comprehensive options.
Among the most significant recommendations is the removal of YouTube from the list of platforms currently exempted from the ban. The previous Minister had defended YouTube’s exemption, though no clear justification had been provided.
The Commissioner warned that despite YouTube’s educational benefits, its popularity among children and the platform’s potentially harmful features — including auto-play, infinite scroll, and algorithm-driven content — conflict with the intent of the Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA) rules, which are meant to reduce online harm to minors.
Recent survey data shows YouTube is the most widely used platform among children aged 10 to 15, with 76% reporting usage — surpassing TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, especially among those aged 10 to 12.
In addition to recommending YouTube’s inclusion in the ban, the Commissioner has urged the government to provide an explanatory statement clarifying the intent of the rules and to broaden the criteria to consider the platform’s purpose and potential for harm.
Minister Wells will now review these recommendations before presenting the finalised rules to Parliament.
