The US tech giant, Google (also owner of YouTube), has reiterated its commitment to children’s online safety while cautioning against Australia’s proposed ban on social media use for those under 16.
Speaking before the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee, Google’s Public Policy Senior Manager Rachel Lord said the legislation, though well-intentioned, may be difficult to enforce and could have unintended effects.
Lord highlighted the 23-year presence of Google in Australia, contributing over $53 billion to the economy in 2024, while YouTube’s creative ecosystem added $970 million to GDP and supported more than 16,000 jobs.
She said the company’s investments, including the $1 billion Digital Future Initiative, reflect its long-term commitment to Australia’s digital development and infrastructure.
According to Lord, YouTube already provides age-appropriate products and parental controls designed to help families manage their children’s experiences online.
Requiring children to access YouTube without accounts, she argued, would remove these protections and risk undermining safe access to educational and creative content used widely in classrooms, music, and sport.
She emphasised that YouTube functions primarily as a video streaming platform rather than a social media network, serving as a learning resource for millions of Australian children.
Lord called for legislation that strengthens safety mechanisms instead of restricting access, saying the focus should be on effective safeguards and parental empowerment rather than outright bans.
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