Should YouTube be exempt from Australia's upcoming social media ban for those under 16? It's currently a hot topic, with a government discussion paper revealing plans to exclude YouTube from the ban, prompting a strong response from Meta, TikTok and Snap.
When deciding which platforms are included in the ban, we believe it's important to consider the role that these platforms play in the lives of young Australians, and the overall impact the use of these platforms has on wellbeing. The prevailing stereotype may be that teens can't imagine a world without TikTok, but young Australians are more considered than one might think when asked to evaluate the impact their favourite platforms have on both their individual wellbeing, and that of society.
Take TikTok and YouTube, for example. While they are both primarily used for video entertainment, there is a considerable difference in the perceptions of them and of the impact they have on their users.
Our latest findings on the topic reveal that Australians overwhelmingly perceive YouTube as a positive force, particularly in contrast to TikTok. 61% of teens think YouTube positively impacts society, while only 35% say this of TikTok – a sentiment mirrored by Australian adults. When asked about the impact the platforms have on young people specifically, 1 in 2 teens believe TikTok has a negative impact on their wellbeing, while just 16% of teens think this of YouTube.
The key difference? Across generations, we found that Australians see YouTube as a platform for learning, creativity, and entertainment, while TikTok is associated with social media addiction and inappropriate content. Content moderation does remain an area for improvement if YouTube is to remain accessible to under-16s, with 51% of teens believing the platform contains inappropriate content, though these concerns are less pronounced than when asked about TikTok.
While YouTube is by no means perfect, the positives of the platform far outweigh the negatives for Australians. They see it as the antithesis to the doom scroll, with content that entertains, inspires and educates —distinct from the addictive nature of other social platforms. This suggests that keeping it accessible to young people is a sound decision. However, the debate goes beyond platform merits to how access should be managed. With ongoing concerns about whether young people should make these choices themselves, a more balanced approach—one that values their perspectives while ensuring appropriate safeguards—may be the best path forward.
This study was conducted with a nationally representative sample of n=1513 Australian adults aged 18-69. n=224 teenagers aged 13-17 also completed the study. Fieldwork was completed in December 2024 and January 2025.
Mikayla Samuels, Senior Associate Director, Nature.
Sam Foote, Senior Consultant, Nature.
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