A special edition of McKnight Tonight looks at the inclusion of the video streaming platform.
McKnight Tonight will dedicate tonight’s episode to one of the most significant digital policy shifts Australia has ever attempted: the Federal Government’s under-16 social media ban, scheduled to come into force on 10 December 2025.
The special edition will examine the pros and cons of the ban, the ongoing High Court challenge, and the increasingly controversial question of whether YouTube should be included alongside platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
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The episode will stream in the player below at 9pm AEDT and be available on demand afterwards:
A diverse and high-profile panel will be offering expertise across advocacy, academia, and youth engagement.
THE PANEL
Emma Mason – Mother & Digital Safety Advocate
A leading figure pushing for stronger online safety laws after the death of her 15-year-old daughter Tilly. Mason has become a national voice calling for greater responsibility from governments and global tech companies.
Greg Attwells – Managing Director, 36 Months
The social-change organisation behind the original campaign to raise the minimum age for social media accounts from 13 to 16. Their advocacy helped trigger the national reform process now being implemented.
Professor Lisa Given – Age-Verification & Digital Safety Expert
An AC Professor of Information Sciences at RMIT University, Professor Given has publicly questioned the effectiveness of the ban. She warns that age-verification systems can be easily bypassed, create privacy risks, and may isolate vulnerable teens who rely on online communities for support.
Daniel Principe – Youth Advocate & Educator
Having spoken to more than 70,000 young Australians, Principe provides frontline insight into how teenagers are using social platforms and how the reforms may affect them. He joins the broadcast via a pre-recorded interview.
WHAT TONIGHT COVERS
The episode, titled “Social Media Ban: The Pros and Cons”, will explore:
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- Why the Government introduced the ban and how it plans to enforce it
- The High Court challenge launched by two teenagers
- Whether the legislation should include YouTube
- Concerns from youth workers that the ban may isolate vulnerable teens
- Privacy implications of age-verification, including reports of government-ID requirements
- What alternatives experts believe would actually make social media safer
The program will also feature analysis of a new Government advertising campaign promoting the ban.
WHEN TO WATCH
McKnight Tonight streams live at 9pm AEDT every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday on
youtube.com/@mcknighttonight.
This special edition takes the entire hour, with viewer comments integrated live during the broadcast.
Media McKnight, the weekly industry-focused edition, streams each Tuesday.
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