Experts are raising concerns about the influence of streaming algorithms on the viewing habits of Australian children.

Unlike previous generations who relied on traditional TV guides, today's children navigate through complex streaming platforms such as Netflix and YouTube, which are largely driven by algorithmic content recommendations.

While children often appreciate these recommendations, they generally lack awareness of the algorithms' underlying effects, experts say. 

“Across research, policy and industry, we haven't fully addressed the implications of kids' screen time now being driven by children’s ‘on-demand’ viewing selections, which are mediated through algorithmic curation and platform interfaces,” says Dr Jessica Balanzategui, lead research of a new study looking at the algorithms’ effects on children. 

“These are often driven by corporate strategies and interests that can restrict children’s access to the available local options.”

The study, which involved in-depth interviews with children and observations of their daily routines, found that US-based platforms such as Netflix and YouTube dominate the screen time of young Australians. 

This trend has significant implications for the discoverability and appreciation of local content, particularly age-appropriate programming produced in Australia.

Dr Djoymi Baker, another researcher involved in the study, pointed out that these platforms could serve as gateways to more mature content, often at the expense of locally produced shows specifically designed for children. 

“Children sometimes saw platforms designed especially for them, like ABC Kids or ME, as skewing too young,” she said. 

“Once habits form around more mature content, it can be difficult to draw kids back to the local content that’s being made with them in mind.”

The study also found that some children mistakenly believed that their favourite Australian shows were American productions. 

The following is a transcript of an interview from the research paper.

Child: I watch a lot of American. […] They always show the flag and speak American. America’s a crazy place […] I do like American shows a lot, but not really Australian shows.

Researcher: But what about Little Lunch and InBESTigators? [two Australian shows the child had previously identified as his favourites].

Child: Little Lunch is definitely American.

Researcher: No, that one’s an Australian show!

Child: [Physically recoils. Shocked pause] Well… InBESTigators is American!

Researcher: InBESTigators is Australian too!

Child: [Shocked pause] WHAT!?

This misidentification underscores the challenge of making local content recognisable amidst the overwhelming presence of foreign media.

This issue is particularly concerning in light of the decline in Australian children's television production, which has seen a dramatic reduction of more than 84 per cent between 2019 and 2022. 

The number of locally produced children's television hours dropped from 605 to just 95 over this period, raising fears about the future of Australian children's programming.

The Federal Government's National Cultural Policy aims to address these challenges by fostering digital and media literacy among young Australians. 

However, Dr Balanzategui believes that more targeted efforts are necessary to ensure local content is both accessible and recognisable to children. 

She suggested that better labelling and possibly creating a central hub for Australian content on streaming platforms could improve the situation. 

Additionally, she advocated for educational programs to help children and parents understand how algorithms work and how they shape viewing choices.

The findings of this study are part of a larger project on Australian children's television cultures, funded by the Australian Children's Television Foundation, with contributions from researchers at both RMIT and Swinburne University of Technology.