This report examines how Australian children aged 7–9 navigate and interact with streaming video platforms, focusing on their fluency with platform interfaces, habits, and ability to identify Australian content. Based on a study involving 37 children and their guardians, the report reveals that while children demonstrate high technical proficiency with platform navigation, they often struggle to recognize Australian content, with only 17.1% selecting it independently. Netflix emerges as the default streaming service, appreciated for its interface design and recommender system, while Australian platforms like ABC Kids are seen as secondary choices. The report also explores the role of algorithmic recommendations in shaping viewing habits, the popularity of YouTube, and the tension between children's preferences and parental concerns, particularly regarding YouTube content. The findings emphasize the need for better visibility and discoverability of Australian content on global streaming platforms and suggest that both children and their parents would benefit from media literacy education focused on the socio-cultural value of local content.
Authors
Jessica Balanzategui, Djoymi Baker, Georgia Clift, Liam Burke, Joanna McIntyre
Related Organizations
- Pages
- 32
- Published in
- Australia
Table of Contents
- Associate Professor Jessica Balanzategui Dr Djoymi Baker Georgia Clift Associate Professor Liam Burke Dr Joanna McIntyre 1
- ACTC Report 3 2024 1
- Australian Content Is Difficult For Children To Find On Streaming Platforms 2
- Australian Content Is Difficult For Children To Identify On Streaming Platforms 2
- YouTube Very Popular But Source Of ChildParent Tension 2
- Netflix As Childrens Go-To And Default Platform 2
- Disney Is A Family Co-Viewing Choice Rather Than Being Used For Routine Viewing 3
- Algorithmic Recommendations Are Important To And Valued By Children 3
- ABC Platforms Popular With Children But Not Australian SVOD Stan 3
- Contents 5
- Summary of Key Findings 5
- Introduction 5
- Australian content is difficult for children to find on streaming platforms 5
- Australian content is difficult for children to identify on streaming platforms 5
- Netflix as childrens go-to and default platform 5
- YouTube very popular with children but associated with childparent tensions 5
- ABC platforms popular but not local SVOD Stan 5
- Disney as a family co-viewing choice particularly for movie nights 5
- Algorithmic recommendations are important to and highly valued by children 5
- Conclusion 5
- Recommendations 5
- Appendix One Table 1 5
- Appendix Two Demographics 5
- Introduction 6
- 1. Australian content is difficult for children to find on streaming platforms 10
- 2. Australian content is difficult for children to identify on streaming platforms 12
- 3. Netflix as childrens go-to and default platform 15
- 4. YouTube very popular with children but associated with childparent tensions 17
- Case Study Dark version of Thomas the Tank Engine on YouTube Kids 18
- 5. ABC platforms popular but not local SVOD Stan 20
- 6. Disney as a family co-viewing choice particularly for movie nights 22
- 7. Algorithmic recommendations are important to and highly valued by children 23
- Conclusion 26
- Recommendations 27
- Appendix One Table 1 28
- Appendix Two Demographics 29
- About the Authors 30
- Authors and Institutions 31
