Australia’s online watchdog is pushing for YouTube to be included in a landmark social media ban for children, accusing platforms of spin in their safety claims.

eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the video-streaming giant should be captured in laws to restrict access for people under the age of 16.

The “world-leading” laws will come into effect from December, but YouTube had received an exemption under the legislation, while platforms including Instagram, Facebook and TikTok will be off-limits.

Addressing the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday, Ms Inman Grant pointed to research that showed seven in 10 children aged between 10 and 15 had encountered harmful content on the internet.

YouTube was the most-cited platform for young people viewing the material.

“Any platform that says they’re absolutely safe is absolutely spinning words,” she said.

YouTube has fiercely rejected the commissioner’s call, denying the site is harmful for young users and argues it should not be considered a social media platform.

In a statement, the Google-owned company urged the government to stick to its public commitment of granting its platform an exemption.

YouTube’s Australian public policy manager Rachel Lord said the eSafety commissioner had ignored other advice showing the platform was suitable for young people.

“This recommendation is in direct contradiction to the government’s decision to exempt YouTube from the ban,” she said.

“eSafety’s advice goes against the government’s own commitment, its own research on community sentiment, independent research and the view of key stakeholders in this debate.”

Ms Inman Grant announced the watchdog was moving to register three industry-prepared codes to limit children’s access to high-impact material such as pornography, violent content, themes of suicide and disordered eating.

She flagged artificial intelligence tools that can estimate a user’s age were being looked at to help enforce the incoming youth ban.

A survey by the commission of more than 2600 children aged between 10 and 15 showed 96 per cent had used at least one social media platform, Ms Inman Grant said.

“Our implementation of this legislation is not designed to cut off kids from their digital lifelines, or to inhibit their ability to connect, to communicate, to create or explore,” she said.

Research from the federal government’s age-assurance trial found a majority thought YouTube was suitable for people younger than 15.

Under the age ban, social media platforms would be fined up to $50 million if the measures are not enforced.

A spokesperson for Communications Minister Anika Wells said the commission’s advice on YouTube was being considered.

“The minister’s top priority is making sure the draft rules fulfil the objective of the act and protect children from the harms of social media,” they said.

Opposition communications spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh said it was disappointing the government was only now getting advice from the eSafety commissioner with six months left before the ban was due.

“In or out, the government needs to make its position clear on the requirements for social media platforms and families to protect our kids from the vitriol that is so prevalent online,” she said.

Andrew Brown and Tess Ikonomou
(Australian Associated Press)