Official Google Australia Blog

A new choice for parents of tweens and teens on YouTube

Thursday, February 25, 2021

“We’ve worked closely with YouTube on the complexities of redesigning their global platform to help ensure that the content children consume is diverse, high quality and age-appropriate. Getting this right is challenging – and requires ongoing discussions with global experts. A global platform will always need to keep innovating in response to emerging challenges, so it’s great to see that YouTube has processes in place to ensure that top notch expertise can guide its evolution.” - Prof Amanda Third, Young and Resilient Research Center Western Sydney University

This generation of tweens and teens has grown up online, and it’s where they go to learn, laugh, and connect. Every family has a different approach to how they use technology, access the internet and set digital ground rules. Over the years, we’ve made investments to protect families and kids on YouTube, such as launching a dedicated kids app, better protecting their privacy, restricting features and improving age restrictions. Today, we are announcing a new choice for parents who have decided their tweens and teens are ready to explore YouTube with a supervised account.

Supervised experiences on YouTube From our earliest days, YouTube has been a platform for people over 13, and we’ve always recommended that parents co-watch with their kids if they choose to watch YouTube. In 2015, we created YouTube Kids, a safer destination for kids to explore their interests while providing parental controls. But since then, we’ve heard from parents and older children that tweens and teens have different needs, which weren’t being fully met by our products. As children grow up, they have insatiable curiosity and need to gain independence and find new ways to learn, create, and belong. Over the last year, we've worked with parents and experts across the globe in areas related to child safety, child development, and digital literacy to develop a solution for parents of tweens and teens. In the coming months, we’ll launch a new experience in beta for parents to allow their children to access YouTube through a supervised Google Account. This supervised experience will come with content settings and limited features. We’ll start with an early beta for families with kids under the age of consent to test and provide feedback, as we continue to expand and improve the experience.

Giving parents content options on YouTube We know that every parent has a different parenting style and that every child is unique and reaches different developmental stages at different times. That’s why we’ll give parents the ability to choose from 3 different content settings on YouTube.

Explore: For children ready to move on from YouTube Kids and explore content on YouTube, this setting will feature a broad range of videos generally suitable for viewers ages 9+, including vlogs, tutorials, gaming videos, music clips, news, educational content and more.
Explore More: With content generally suitable for viewers ages 13+, this setting will include an even larger set of videos, and also live streams in the same categories as “Explore.”
Most of YouTube: This setting will contain almost all videos on YouTube, except for age-restricted content, and it includes sensitive topics that may only be appropriate for older teens.

This option was designed for parents who think their children are ready to explore the vast universe of YouTube videos. We will use a mix of user input, machine learning and human review to determine which videos are included. We know that our systems will make mistakes and will continue to evolve over time. We recommend parents continue to be involved in guiding and supporting their child’s experience on YouTube. To help parents get started, we’ve developed a guide in partnership with National PTA, Parent Zone and Be Internet Awesome. We’ll also launch an ongoing campaign that features creators discussing themes like bullying and harassment, misinformation, digital well-being and more.

New features for families We understand the importance of striking a balance between empowering tweens and teens to more safely gain independence, while offering parents ways to set controls. In addition to choosing the content setting, parents will be able to manage watch and search history from within their child's account settings. Parents can also use other controls offered by Google’s Family Link, including screen timers. We’ll continue adding new parental controls over time, such as blocking content. When a parent grants access to YouTube, their child’s experience will feel much like regular YouTube, but certain features will be disabled to protect younger audiences. For example, we won't serve personalised ads or ads in certain categories. At launch, we'll also disable in-app purchases, as well as creation and comments features. Since self-expression and community are integral parts of YouTube and children's development, over time we'll work with parents and experts to add some of these features through an age-appropriate and parent controlled approach.

Investing in YouTube Kids We’re building this new supervised experience for parents who think their older kids are ready to use YouTube, but we still recommend YouTube Kids for younger kids to watch independently and have a more contained viewing experience. With availability in over 80 countries, now over 35 million viewers use YouTube Kids every week. We’ll continue expanding product availability, adding new features, and offering several new parental tools, such as a highly-requested option for parents to select specific videos and channels from the main YouTube platform that they’d like their child to explore on YouTube Kids.

We know that we have a long journey ahead of us as we design this experience for parents of tweens and teens. Over the long term, we hope this will provide a safer environment for older children to explore their interests, learn new skills, connect with communities that share their passions, while giving parents more ways to support their kids' online experience.

Posted by James Beser, Director of Product Management, Kids and Family

Wear a mask, wash your hands, don’t reuse your password!

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Parents have always been concerned for the digital safety of their families, and with online learning becoming the main mode of school for many, this might be even more of a concern. So we worked with our Trust and Safety Research team to survey parents all over Asia-Pacific, including here in Australia, and found that parents with children attending school online were more concerned about online safety than those whose children attended school in-person. As we moved to home working and learning, and children continued their education through digital means, 47% of Aussie parents expressed increased concern about online safety for their children. But interestingly, more than a third of parents interviewed said they had never spoken to their children about online safety, and only half of those interviewed said they were currently using online family safety features. As kids of different ages use the internet in very different ways, instilling safe habits can be a challenge. So today, on Safer Internet Day, here are some tips to address the top three parental concerns when it comes to keeping our children safe online.
1. Protect their digital identities. The privacy and security of their children’s information was the top concern of parents we surveyed across all regions. Parents cited concerns around scams or hacking of their child’s accounts. Here are some simple ways to safeguard your kids’ information:

Teach your children how to choose strong passwords that cannot be easily guessed. Avoid simple passwords that use names, birthdates, or even favourite cartoon characters.
It is also useful to stick to platforms that have a strong reputation for user safety. For instance, using an email service like Gmail comes with built-in safety filters to detect phishing emails, blocking 99.9% of phishing attacks from ever reaching your inbox.

2. Know who they talk to. Social isolation is a difficult outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our children connect with their friends online, whether through messaging apps or voice chat while playing games. It is important for parents to be aware that these channels can also be used by ill-intentioned strangers to reach out to our children. Just as in real life, it is important to be aware of who our children talk to online.

Try to talk to your kids about the games they play or the videos they watch, and also the people they play with online. I always remind my son to come to me immediately if he faces any situation online that makes him feel uncomfortable. More than 70% of parents in Asia-Pacific were not very confident that their children would come to them if they encountered unsafe situations online. Considering more than a third of the parents we interviewed had never spoken to their children about online safety we need to work hard to reassure our children that we are here to guide and protect them.
When assessing if a game is suitable for your child, it is important to check not only the content of the game, but also whether the app allows online communications with others. Some multiplayer games allow only a few options for social interaction, like a thumbs up rather than a text chat. This reduces risks of unwanted social interactions by quite a lot.

3. Offer appropriate content at the appropriate age. The fear of children encountering inappropriate content has long been among the top concerns of parents in surveys. There are family safety features that parents can use to help guard their children from content that may not be suitable for their age. However, we learned that only 50% of Aussie parents we surveyed are using these features. Here are some features that you can start using today:

Turning on SafeSearch on Google helps filter out explicit content in Google’s search results for all searches, including images, videos and websites. SafeSearch is designed to help block explicit results like pornography from Google search results.
Manage your child’s device by creating a Google account for your child and using Family Link. This allows you to add filters on Google Search, block websites or only give access to the ones you allow or track the location of your child if they have their own device.
Many parental controls are available on YouTube Kids. You are able to limit screen time, only show videos that you approve or select suitable content based on the age of your child.

Some other time-tested tips include allowing children to use the internet only in common areas in the home such as the living room. But the tough part is leading by example!
At the end of the day, the core of parenting lies in the relationships we build with our children. They require our guidance on the internet as much as they do in the real world. Let’s work together to make the internet a safe place for our children to learn, create and explore.
Posted by Samantha Yorke, Online Safety Lead, Government Affairs and Public Policy

Marvel at Maria Island with today’s Google Doodle

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Whatever the tone of the day, Australians are bound by a love for our land, the seas that surround us and our extraordinary wildlife. Now more than ever, we’ve been prompted to treasure our natural wonders – as this time last year, our heroic firefighters battled Australia’s worst raging bushfires in modern history.

So, as we honour the many marvels of our island home today, we’re taking a virtual trip to a spectacular island just off Tassie, Maria Island.
Maria island is home to a unique collection of mammal, marine, and avian species – and has been categorised as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. This includes one of Australia’s rarest birds and the star of today’s Google Doodle, the forty-spotted pardalote. This precious bird is about 9-10 cm long, with a light olive green body and distinctive white dots. It is depicted nestled in its natural habitat, the dry eucalypt forest where white gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) occurs. The tiny pardalote is the first Australian bird known to forage a sugary sap called manna by snipping the leaf stalks of gum trees. Maria Island supports the highest breeding population of forty-spotted pardalotes in Tasmania, which plays an important role in maintaining the forest’s vitality and managing insect pest populations.
Whether you’re in Tassie or Townsville, we invite you to explore Maria Island on Street View and get inspired for your next trip. You can discover ancient clams, sea fans, corals of the Fossil Cliffs walk – and the vibrant colours and swirling patterns of the Painted Cliffs walk.
Today’s Google Doodle was developed in collaboration with Tasmanian Aboriginal community and Elders. We respectfully acknowledge the Tasmanian Aboriginal communities and Elders past and present.

Posted by Daniel Nadasi, Engineering Site Lead, Google Australia

Supporting quality reporting and information on vaccines

Friday, December 11, 2020

This is a guest blog post from Dr Susannah Eliott, CEO of the Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC), which works to enhance the media's coverage of science, for the benefit of the publicCOVID-19 Vaccine Media HubGoogle News InitiativeAustralian Science Media CentreMeedanCharter of IndependenceAustralian Science Media Centrehere

Year in Search 2020: Here’s what Aussies searched for this year

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

From fires to facemasks and sourdough, this year’s top trending searches show our wide spectrum of curiosities, worries and cravings.
2020 has been a year like no other, marked by blazing bushfires, a global pandemic – and cravings for comfort food. We sought definitions, made sense of restrictions and looked to help people in need. We were stood down from jobs, stood up for Black Lives Matter and stood behind Quaden Bayles. We hunted for hand sanitiser, stocked up on toilet paper and donated bales of hay. And looking abroad, we followed the US election, the Beirut explosion and said goodbye to some greats.
As the year draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on the moments that made Aussies wonder, question and rally together. Here's a snapshot of five themes showing what caught Aussies' attention in Search in 2020:
Health, safety and livelihood 2020 began with smokey skies as Australia battled raging bushfires – prompting us to search for ‘fires near me’ and check the air quality. Not long after, COVID-19 rattled the world, steering our searches towards safeguards and lockdown kits. We were on a mission for hand sanitiser, face masks, antibacterial wipes and isopropyl alcohol. We asked how to get tested for coronavirus, how far we could travel and if we could go fishing. And as jobs were stood down or lost, we looked to apply for Centrelink and JobKeeper.
A new language for our new normal We may have been lost for words this year, but it turns out we found some new ones too. Search shows we were looking to understand medical, scientific and political terminology – as we looked up the definitions of COVID, pandemic, lockdown and stimulus package. As people joined and watched the Black Lives Matter protests, we wanted to know what BIPOC stood for. And as “Karen” memes filled feeds, Aussies wanted to get across this new slang term. Buying and DIYing The top trending DIY queries show that Aussies were crafty, resourceful and ambitious in 2020. As protective and sanitary products flew off the shelves, we wanted to to know how to make hand sanitiser, face masks, toilet paper – and even ventilators. We were also inspired to treat ourselves to some much needed self-care, searching to buy neck hammocks, dumbbells and looking for DIY foot scrubs.
Savoury, sweet and sanitary (!) recipes Food was a big feature of 2020, with many of us cooking up storms and eating at home more than ever before. Curiously, for the first time, a non-edible item has topped the list of top trending recipes: hand sanitiser. On a yummier note, baked goods were a stand out this year. Sourdough topped the list of (edible) recipes and we also kneaded donuts, crumpets, macarons, Anzac cookies and banana bread. Moving on to heartier, main meals, good ol’ spag bol and Beef Stroganoff also featured on the menu of top trending recipes. And finally, for a caffeine hit, we jumped on the Dalgona coffee bandwagon.
Rising up and reaching out While 2020 brought many hurdles, our searches show that Aussies were looking for ways to help each other through the hardship. As many Aussies struggled in drought and fire bush affected areas, we looked to “buy from the bush,” “buy Aussie now” and “buy a bale.” And when Quaden Bayles shared his heartbreaking story as a victim of bullying, we stood behind him – making Quaden the top trending kid on Search in Australia in 2020.
To rediscover the events, people and topics that defined 2020 in Australia and around the world, watch our our Year in Search video:

To dive into Australia's lists, check out the full trending lists for 2020:
Overall Searches: 1. US election 2. Coronavirus 3. NBA 4. Zoom 5. Coronavirus symptoms 6. Kobe Bryant 7. Weather tomorrow 8. Fires near me 9. Coronavirus Victoria 10, Trump vs Biden
News topics: 1. US election 2. Coronavirus 3. Fires near me 4. Coronavirus Victoria 5. Toilet paper 6. NSW fires 7. Qantas share price 8. Air quality Melbourne 9. Beirut explosion 10. NSW coronavirus
Australian public figures: 1. Dani Laidley 2. Celeste Barber 3. Gladys Berejiklian 4. George Pell 5.Quaden Bayles 6. Pete Evans 7. Nicola Gobbo 8. Peter Dutton 9. Richard Pusey 10. Ben Cousins
Global public figures: 1. Joe Biden 2. Kim Jong Un 3. Boris Johnson 4. Kamala Harris 5. Tom Hanks 6. Kanye West 7. Joe Exotic 8. Donald Trump 9. Prince Harry 10. Carole Baskin
Loss: 1. Kobe Bryant 2. Naya Rivera 3. Chadwick Boseman 4. George Floyd 5. Sean Connery 6. Caroline Flack 7. Kelly Preston 8. Kenny Rogers 9. Sushant Singh Rajput 10. Shane Tuck
Sport: 1. NBA 2. EPL 3. State of Origin 2020 4. Champions League 5. IPL 6. French Open 7. ATP Cup 8. Australia vs New Zealand 9. Tennis Australian Open 10. AFL scores
Recipe 1. Hand sanitizer 2. Sourdough bread 3. Beef Stroganoff 4. Spaghetti bolognese 5. Donut 6. Crumpet 7. Macaron 8. Anzac cookie 9. Banana bread 10. Dalgona coffee
How to….? 1. How to make hand sanitizer 2. How to make a face mask 3. How to use Zoom 4. How to get tested for coronavirus 5. How to make bread 6. How to make self raising flour 7. How to apply for Centrelink 8. How to buy shares 9. How to apply for JobKeeper 10. How to make whipped coffee
DIY1. DIY hand sanitiser 2. DIY face mask pattern3. DIY neck hammock 4. DIY ventilator 4. DIY foot scrub 5. DIY fire pit area 6. DIY toilet paper7. DIY pottery kit 8. DIY antibacterial wipes9. DIY scrunchie holder
Definitions 1. COVID 2. Pandemic 3. Branch stacking 4. Stimulus package 5. Stand down 6. Portmanteau 7. BIPOC 8. Barre 9. Lockdown 10. Karen
Goods and giving: 1. Where to buy face masks 2. Buy toilet paper online 3. Buy from the bush 4. Buy Ps5 5. Buy Aussie now 6. Where to buy hand sanitizer 7. Buy isopropyl alcohol 8. Buy a bale 9. Buy Xbox Series X 10. Buy dumbbells
‘Can I….?’ 1.Where can I buy toilet paper 2. Where can I buy hand sanitiser 3. Where can I get tested for coronavirus 4. Can I access my super 5. How many people can I have in my house 6. When can I access my super 7. Can I go fishing in NSW 8. How much can I borrow home loan 9. How far can I travel in QLD 10. Can I leave Australia
Posted by Camilla Ibrahim, Communications & Public Affairs Manager, Google Australia

Powering innovation and efficiency in Australia’s public sector

Thursday, December 3, 2020

expanded capacitypowerful remote working toolsshared datasetshealthcare APIs
Improving customer service and experienceDigital Transformation Agency Google AnalyticsGoogle Search ConsoleService NSWApigeeCSIROLooking ahead as Australia emerges from COVID-19launch of our Melbourne region in 2021Registration by Mark Innes, Vice President, ANZ at Google Cloud

Celebrating the Outstanding 50 LGBTI+ Leaders of 2020

Thursday, November 26, 2020

And it’s an important part of our mission: ‘to organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful’. That one word - ‘universal’ - says everything about how we think when we’re designing products that aim to be useful and helpful to everyone.

That’s why Google is extremely proud to once again partner with Deloitte and EnergyAustralia in supporting the Outstanding 50 LGBTI+ Leaders Report - recognising and celebrating remarkable role models across the country.

2020’s list is incredibly inspiring and it’s been humbling to read through the stories and achievements of leaders in so many diverse industries - from business and corporate Australia, to public service, diversity and inclusion, the not-for-profit sector, and social justice.

This year, we are especially proud to support the initiative because our very own Googler, Tara Mckenty, has been recognised amongst the esteemed field. This is the second time a Googler has received the honour, following Tea Uglow’s recognition in 2018.

Tara is Google’s Creative Director and Founder of Rare, Google's diversity and inclusion initiative for the creative industries. Her tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion, and ensure advertising represents diverse perspectives, inspire many at Google and have rightly earned her a place on this Outstanding 50 LGBTI+ Leaders Report.

Throughout her seven years’ with Google, Tara has also led the creative execution of Google’s Mardi Gras initiatives (Places of Pride and Love by Numbers), ensured diverse talent is represented in all communications, and built a platform to help remove unconscious bias from machine learning algorithms (Project Respect). Tara’s passion about diversity, inclusion and equity in the creative industries and using advertising as a medium for social good shines through in her work at all times.

“I’ve tried to be open and out about my identity, to ensure that the generation behind me has visible LGBTI+ role models, so they can see what they want to be, and know that there is a place in our industry for people like us,” Tara says.

You can read more about Tara’s experience and those of the other inspiring leaders in the Outstanding 50 LGBTI+ Leaders Report here.

Congratulations to all nominees and finalists - thank you for continuing to inspire LGBTI+ communities and allies.
Posted by Aisling Finch, Director of Marketing, Google Australia

Australia Blog

A new choice for parents of tweens and teens on YouTube

Wear a mask, wash your hands, don’t reuse your password!

Marvel at Maria Island with today’s Google Doodle

Supporting quality reporting and information on vaccines

Year in Search 2020: Here’s what Aussies searched for this year

Powering innovation and efficiency in Australia’s public sector

Celebrating the Outstanding 50 LGBTI+ Leaders of 2020

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