Tag Archives: Australia

Supporting a healthy digital ads ecosystem in Australia

Advertising plays a major role in sustaining the free and open web. It supports a universe of Australian creators and publishers — and underwrites the useful content and services that Australian internet users enjoy. Advertising technology creates opportunities for businesses, particularly small and medium businesses, to connect with customers. This helps facilitate competition, innovation and growth across the Australian economy. Research by AlphaBeta estimated that Google creates AU$32 billion in benefits annually for businesses and content creators in Australia through its advertising platforms.  


Google succeeds when our partners do — so we have a strong incentive to ensure a healthy digital advertising ecosystem. We’ve made significant efforts and investments in this, and always aim to do so in a way that balances the interests of consumers, advertisers, and publishers. We recognise that advertising technology is a dynamic area and we welcome opportunities to share more on how advertising technology works. 


Earlier this year the ACCC released its Interim Report on the digital advertising services industry. It recognises the considerable value of advertising technology in creating growth opportunities for businesses and publishers, while identifying areas for further improvement. We wanted to share some thoughts and suggestions we have in response to this. We expand on these in our submission to the ACCC here.

A regulatory approach that reflects the dynamics of digital advertising

We take seriously the ongoing need to maintain and improve trust in digital advertising and the ecosystem that supports it. We believe some key factors should be considered as the ACCC develops its final recommendations: 


  • Balancing the interests of different stakeholders:Advertising technology involves balancing the interests of consumers, advertisers and publishers, which may sometimes be in conflict. This is not unique to Google — it applies to everyone participating in the advertising technology space. This means that any interventions must be carefully designed to take into account these inevitable trade-offs. Well-meaning but misjudged interventions can cause unintentional harm to consumers and businesses. For example, measures that increase transparency for one group may put consumer privacy at risk. We firmly believe that privacy needs to be a core principle underpinning the development of any proposals. Our users trust us with their data and we take that responsibility seriously.

  • Supporting supply chain transparency:We provide information about our advertising technology to our customers and partners but recognise more can be done in support of a transparent ecosystem. We are working to improve supply chain transparency, including supporting the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Transparency Standard, SupplyChain Object, that aims to improve ecosystem quality by enabling buyers and intermediaries to see all parties who are selling or reselling a given bid request. We will continue to work with industry and other stakeholders on constructive and collaborative solutions. When it comes to our advertising technology, we’ve recently shared how our display advertising business works when advertisers and publishers choose to use our products. Even when ads flow through both our buy-side and sell-side services, publishers receive the majority of the revenue. Publishers keep about 70 percent of the revenue when using our products, and for some types of advertising, publishers keep even more.

  • Protecting innovation and competition: The ACCC has identified some potential areas for intervention that risk undermining benefits for advertisers and publishers. In particular, vertical integration of services within the industry provides significant benefits by making products easier to use, and reducing the time and effort customers need to spend to achieve their desired outcomes. Customers and publishers including SBS, WPP and The Guardian have recognised this (p21). Regulatory interventions that could reduce those benefits should be evaluated carefully and only implemented if there is clear evidence of competitive harm. Otherwise, the ability and incentive for advertising technology providers to improve product quality will be affected without achieving tangible benefits, to the detriment of advertisers and publishers.

  • Recognising the highly dynamic and multifaceted nature of digital advertising: The ACCC’s Report focuses only on web-based open display advertising, an artificially narrow segment that does not fully reflect industry dynamics or the breadth of services. There are many companies, large and small, working together and in competition with each other to power digital advertising across different technologies — including the Web, mobile applications and Connected TV. This competition has spurred Google and other advertising technology providers to innovate further and compete across pricing, service and product. Advertising technology players need to constantly innovate to adapt to these trends.

  • Avoiding inconsistent and overlapping regulation:Any ACCC recommendations should also consider the interaction with other regulatory regimes and ensure that interventions do not create inconsistency or overlaps which may undermine legal certainty for all stakeholders. In particular, the existing competition law framework already applies to digital issues and deals with any concerns relating to anti-competitive self-preferencing. And the Privacy Act 1988 is currently being reviewed by the Australian Government. We believe it’s in the interests of all stakeholders to ensure that any recommendations that might impact consumer privacy (for example, common transaction IDs or data interoperability proposals) will be consistent with the outcomes of this review and will not harm consumers. 

A collaborative approach to the future of digital ads 

We support the ACCC’s suggestions for industry-led initiatives. Industry participants have deep knowledge of advertising technology, industry dynamics and potential consequences of different interventions for different stakeholders. Google has a track record of working with other industry players to improve the digital ad ecosystem. For example, we co-authored and led industry adoption of the IAB’s ads.txt and app-ads.txt specifications, and more recently participated in the development of Sellers.json.  These were major steps forward in tackling ad fraud.  We are also working with industry organisations such as the Australian IAB on further measures to support the long-term viability and integrity of an ad-supported digital advertising ecosystem. 


We are confident that a collaborative approach will benefit consumers and businesses in Australia. You can read Google's submission here. We look forward to continuing to participate constructively in the ACCC’s Ad Tech Inquiry process — working collaboratively to help avoid unnecessary inefficiencies and barriers in a competitive, growing and innovative sector. 

How we’re helping Aussies in their search for support

Editor’s note: This post is co-authored by Rachel Bowes, Head of Crisis Services and Quality at Lifeline Australia and Jill Newby, Associate Professor at Black Dog Institute. 



Early intervention and access to mental health support services are now more important than ever, following a difficult 14 months for Australians with bushfires, drought and COVID-19. 

Search interest for "What is depression?" reached its highest peak in more than a decade in March 2020 in Australia, so there is a great opportunity to direct people to the support they need — right at the moment they are looking for information. 

Starting today, anyone in Australia searching for depression can not only view trusted information on the condition, but also opt to take a 9-question self-assessment that is based on a clinically-validated questionnaire called PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9). This questionnaire is used by healthcare providers to evaluate someone’s level of depression and identify resources that would be most suitable to their needs. 


After completing Google’s new self-assessment, people can see their risk for depression as well as connect with evidence-based resources, crisis hotlines, and additional support from our teams at Black Dog Institute and Lifeline. 

With over 3 million people in Australia living with anxiety or depression, the more access to support that is offered the better. 1 in 5 Aussies will experience symptoms of mental illness in any given year – and roughly 60% of these people won’t seek help. So when organisations take steps to ensure people are aware that support is available and how to access them, we know it will help save lives. 

Over the past year, Lifeline’s Volunteer Crisis Supporters have been on the frontline, holding people safe as they battle the invisible effects of disaster – the impact on mental health. At Lifeline, the ‘new normal’ is responding to over 3,000 calls every day. That’s a person in crisis now reaching out for support every 30 seconds. 

Meanwhile the Black Dog Institute was quick to conduct research on how Australians were coping with the pandemic. Realising three quarters of participants said their mental health had worsened as a result of COVID-19, the medical research institute stepped up support through its online clinic offering telehealth support so everybody has the same access to support, no matter their location in Australia. 

Collectively, the Black Dog Institute and Lifeline welcome new resources that help people better understand their condition and empower them to seek out appropriate mental health support services. We are glad to work with Google to extend existing, clinically-validated tools to meet the needs of Australians, especially during this critical time.

Meet the new Nest Hub

Introducing the second-generation Nest Hub! Since we launched Google’s first smart display two years ago, it’s brought help to thousands of homes and we’ve been dedicated to exploring ways to make our devices even more helpful. 

The Nest Hub you love, but better 
The new Nest Hub’s speaker is based on the same audio technology as Nest Audio and has 50 percent more bass than the original Hub for a bigger, richer sound to fill any room with music, podcasts or audiobooks from services like YouTube Music and Spotify — or enjoy your favourite TV shows and movies with a subscription from providers like Netflix, Disney+ and Stan. With Quick Gestures, you can pause or play content at any time by tapping the air in front of your display. 
The new Nest Hub shows all your compatible connected devices in one place so you can control them with one tap. And with a built-in Thread radio, Nest Hub will work with the new connectivity standard being created by the Project Connected Home over IP working group, making it even simpler to control your connected home. 

Nest Hub is also full of help for your busy family. See your calendar, set timers, and create reminders with Family Notes, digital sticky notes to share chores and to-dos so everyone stays on track. 


New sleep features for better rest 
The Nest Hub has always helped you tackle the day; now, it can help you rest well at night. Many of us don’t get enough sleep, which is becoming the number one concern for adults when it comes to health and wellness. 
As people have started to recognise the need for better sleep, sleep trackers have continued to become a popular solution. But we wanted to offer an alternative way for people who may not want to wear something to bed to understand their sleep. 
We dug into the data, and because we also knew people felt comfortable with Nest Hub at their bedsides thanks to its camera-free design, we went to work. The result is Sleep Sensing, an opt-in feature to help you understand and improve your sleep — and is available as a free preview until next year. 
Sleep Sensing is completely optional with privacy safeguards in place so you’re in control: You choose if you want to enable it and there's a visual indicator on the display to let you know when it’s on. Motion Sense only detects motion, not specific bodies or faces, and your coughing and snoring audio data is only processed on the device — it isn’t sent to Google servers. You have multiple controls to disable Sleep Sensing features, including a hardware switch that physically disables the microphone. You can review or delete your sleep data at any time, and consistent with our privacy commitments, it isn't used for personalised ads. 
Even if you choose not to enable Sleep Sensing, you can still fall asleep and wake up easier with Nest Hub. The display dims to make your bedroom more sleep-friendly, and the “Your evening” page helps you wind down at night with relaxing sounds. When it’s time to wake up, Nest Hub’s Sunrise Alarm gradually brightens the display and increases the alarm volume. If you need a few more ZZZs, use Motion Sense to wave your hand and snooze the alarm. 


Sustainable design that matches any room 
The new Nest Hub will be available to Australians in two colours, to complement most rooms in the house: Chalk and Charcoal. It features an edgeless glass display that’s easy to clean and makes your Nest Hub an even more beautiful digital photo frame. And continuing our commitment to sustainability, Nest Hub is designed with recycled materials with its plastic mechanical parts containing 54 percent recycled post-consumer plastic. 

The second-generation Nest Hub is $149. It can be preordered online in Australia at the Google Store and other retailers from today.

Inspiring the next generation of Google engineers

One of the things I find most inspiring in life is the transformative potential of technology. 


The ability to solve complex real world problems, like contact tracing in a pandemic, and the way technology opens up completely new possibilities, like dramatically improving access to vital health services while reducing the cost. 


Technology and engineering are the means to these incredible achievements and it’s vital we continue to help young people across the country develop these skills. That’s why we were thrilled to launch a new high-tech classroom in the Montello Primary School, in Burnie Tasmania. 


Member for Braddon, Gavin Pearce, Lucinda Longcroft, Rosemary Conn, CEO of SchoolsPlus, students Murphy Mansfield and Mathew Dunn, and Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie, launch the Makerspace at Montello Primary.

The Makerspace classroom will develop STEM abilities and create new opportunities for students. It will also equip teachers with skills in leading tech and engineering lessons, benefiting students for decades to come. 


The Makerspace is full of technology and equipment that promotes hands-on and problem based learning for students, who will explore new concepts like Robotics, Machine Learning, and Virtual Reality. 


It was a thrill to watch Google engineers guide students through their first lessons - helping them don virtual reality headsets and explore the floor of a remote, tropical ocean teaming with colourful fish.


Students take a lesson in Virtual Reality

Students take a lesson in Virtual Reality

Next, was a lesson on robotics where students played with small vehicles before an introduction to machine learning. Later, our engineers sat down for a Q&A session with students who asked thoughtful and inspiring questions about Google and the possibilities of technology. 


Google’s $33,000 donation was made through a program led by Schools Plus, a not-for-profit that exists to help bridge the education gap caused by disadvantage and create lasting opportunities in rural and regional areas.


It’s a partnership that’s extremely important to Google and has helped 11 schools across Australia 1,300 students and 485 teachers over the last three years.


An introductory class on Small Robotics

An introductory class on Small Robotics

Students will attend one lesson a week at the Makerspace, which all 15 teachers at the school will be trained to provide. 


In addition to what students will learn in class, the Makerspace will run an after-school ‘Code Club’. Parents will also have the opportunity to come along and share in what their children have been learning. 


It’s only the beginning of this great partnership. Teachers will benefit with professional development training and ongoing support from our engineers, who are looking forward to meeting with students again soon helping them develop practical knowledge and personal capabilities.


Montello’s students learn about the new Makerspace classroom

Montello’s students learn about the new Makerspace classroom

Australia has a long and proud history when it comes to technology and innovation. That’s true for Google in Australia too. We started in a Sydney lounge-room almost two decades ago, with some of our most well-known products created right here, like Google Maps.


The enthusiasm, wonder and positivity of Montello’s students was inspiring to watch. We hope the Makerspace will inspire the students to become the next generation of Google engineers.


Inspiring the next generation of Google engineers

One of the things I find most inspiring in life is the transformative potential of technology. 


The ability to solve complex real world problems, like contact tracing in a pandemic, and the way technology opens up completely new possibilities, like dramatically improving access to vital health services while reducing the cost. 


Technology and engineering are the means to these incredible achievements and it’s vital we continue to help young people across the country develop these skills. That’s why we were thrilled to launch a new high-tech classroom in the Montello Primary School, in Burnie Tasmania. 


Member for Braddon, Gavin Pearce, Lucinda Longcroft, Rosemary Conn, CEO of SchoolsPlus, students Murphy Mansfield and Mathew Dunn, and Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie, launch the Makerspace at Montello Primary.

The Makerspace classroom will develop STEM abilities and create new opportunities for students. It will also equip teachers with skills in leading tech and engineering lessons, benefiting students for decades to come. 


The Makerspace is full of technology and equipment that promotes hands-on and problem based learning for students, who will explore new concepts like Robotics, Machine Learning, and Virtual Reality. 


It was a thrill to watch Google engineers guide students through their first lessons - helping them don virtual reality headsets and explore the floor of a remote, tropical ocean teaming with colourful fish.


Students take a lesson in Virtual Reality

Students take a lesson in Virtual Reality

Next, was a lesson on robotics where students played with small vehicles before an introduction to machine learning. Later, our engineers sat down for a Q&A session with students who asked thoughtful and inspiring questions about Google and the possibilities of technology. 


Google’s $33,000 donation was made through a program led by Schools Plus, a not-for-profit that exists to help bridge the education gap caused by disadvantage and create lasting opportunities in rural and regional areas.


It’s a partnership that’s extremely important to Google and has helped 11 schools across Australia 1,300 students and 485 teachers over the last three years.


An introductory class on Small Robotics

An introductory class on Small Robotics

Students will attend one lesson a week at the Makerspace, which all 15 teachers at the school will be trained to provide. 


In addition to what students will learn in class, the Makerspace will run an after-school ‘Code Club’. Parents will also have the opportunity to come along and share in what their children have been learning. 


It’s only the beginning of this great partnership. Teachers will benefit with professional development training and ongoing support from our engineers, who are looking forward to meeting with students again soon helping them develop practical knowledge and personal capabilities.


Montello’s students learn about the new Makerspace classroom

Montello’s students learn about the new Makerspace classroom

Australia has a long and proud history when it comes to technology and innovation. That’s true for Google in Australia too. We started in a Sydney lounge-room almost two decades ago, with some of our most well-known products created right here, like Google Maps.


The enthusiasm, wonder and positivity of Montello’s students was inspiring to watch. We hope the Makerspace will inspire the students to become the next generation of Google engineers.


Rising up to celebrate Mardi Gras 2021

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people gather on Oxford St to celebrate Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. While this year’s event looked a little different, the 2021 theme called on the community to RISE up and celebrate loudly, proudly – and safely. 

Over the past 5 years, we’ve supported Mardi Gras’ vision to provide a platform for LGBTQI+ people and their allies to share stories, connect and express themselves. We’ve provided funding to individuals, community groups and not-for-profits through the Mardi Gras Community Grants Program to help organisations deliver their messages and dazzle during the parade. These organisations have advocated across a range of issues – from sport to health and the creative arts. 

Among our grantees this year are Haka for Life and Corroboree for Life, two Perth-based suicide prevention organisations with a mission is to empower people to connect with culture through traditional Aboriginal dance and the Māori Haka. 



This year, Haka for Life and Corroboree for Life paraded traditional costumes and powerfully performed Corroborees and the Haka across the Sydney Cricket Ground. 




We’re delighted to award grants to many other LGBTQI+ focused organisations, representing trans, regional and indigenous communities (and more).  This includes: 

ANTRA (澳纽彩盟) - Australia & New Zealand Tongzhi Rainbow Alliance is a NSW registered community organisation advocating for the rights, livelihood and welfare of Australia and New Zealand’s Mandarin & Cantonese speaking LGBTQIA+ communities. 

Autism Spectrum Australia - A not-for-profit working in partnership with people on the autism spectrum to understand, engage and celebrate the strengths and interests of people on the autism spectrum, including the Autistic LGBTQIA+ community, as the Neurodiversity Rainbow. 

Point Clare Families - A grassroots community group from the Central Coast representing same sex parented, opposite sex parented and single parent families. They celebrate diverse families and safe spaces for youth and families to explore their identities. Their group includes participants living with disability.

TRANS GLAMORE - A night held monthly in celebration of transgender performers & friends. 

We are proud to support even more organisations with grants this year including; The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (BGF), The Colours of Our Community, Different Strokes, Dayenu-Sydney’s Jewish LGBTQ+ Group, Emerald City Kickball, Entry #2, Girl Guides, The Institute of Many, The Oz Fag Hags, The Pinnacle Foundation, Raio de Sol, The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Business Association, Sydney Silverbacks Wrestling Club, Trikone Australia and Queer Zumba. 

While we had to navigate new rules and restrictions this year, Mardi Gras 2021 was no half measure. The spirit was high, the festivities were fabulous – and the community showed they are ready to RISE and shine. I’m already reliving the memories listening to the YouTube Mardi Gras playlist! 

Posted by Jes Kane, Social Impact Manager, Google Australia and New Zealand

From the seas, to more ZZZs: Your new Pixel features

The best part of your Pixel is that it keeps getting even more helpful, and even more unique. With regular updates, Pixels get smarter, more capable and more fun. This latest drop is no exception, and for Pixel 3 and newer devices, includes the ability to easily access and share audio recordings, a new way to use the Pixel Camera app underwater and new wallpapers to celebrate International Women's Day. 

A more shareable Recorder 
Whether it’s that guitar riff you've been working on or reviewing transcripts from a class lecture, Recorder makes it easy for Pixel owners to easily record, transcribe (English only) and search the audio moments that matter to you. Now you can share links to your Recorder audio files, so anyone can listen, even if they don’t have a Pixel. At recorder.google.com, you can hear recordings, see transcripts and even search through files — you get the entire Recorder playback experience in one shareable link. 
You can also back up recordings to your Google Account to help keep them safe, and easily access them from any device. See more at g.co/pixel/recorder. 

Capture the seas with Kraken Sports 
Now Pixel users can capture the same kinds of high quality images they’re accustomed to above water, and do it underwater without the cumbersome cameras and cases scuba drivers have traditionally used. Pixel camera software engineer, José Ricardo Lima, was scuba diving with his husband in the Philippines when he wondered what it would be like to use his Pixel camera underwater. His idea was to create a custom integration that combined Pixel’s camera with a case made for diving. Now, divers will be able to use their Pixel camera with the Kraken Sports’ Universal Smart Phone Housing to capture marine life and seascapes. Get access to your Pixel’s camera features, including Night Sight, Portrait Mode, Motion Photos and video directly through Pixel’s Camera app for high-quality images of you and your underwater friends. See g.co/pixel/diveconnector for more information. 
Photo captured on Pixel 5 using KRH03 Kraken Sports Universal Smart Housing. Kraken Sports is a registered trademark of Kraken Sports Ontario, Canada. 

Attention-grabbing graphics 
Part of Pixel’s latest drop also includes new wallpapers that celebrate different cultural moments throughout the year with artwork from artists around the world. And for International Women’s Day on March 8, Pixel will add new wallpapers illustrated by Spanish duo Cachetejack, which focus on the strength and transformation of women. 
Adapting to you and your routine 
Your Pixel can help you catch more ZZZs with a more seamless bedtime schedule on your Pixel Stand. When you use the bedtime features in Clock with your Pixel Stand, you’ll see a new, updated bedtime screen, along with redesigned notifications to help you ease into sleep. This feature is available on Pixel phones with wireless charging capability: Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL and Pixel 5. Pixel Stand is sold separately. 
For more information on the new features that just dropped and to see phone compatibility, head to http://g.co/pixel/updates. And if you’re looking for more helpfulness across your device, check out all of the latest updates announced from Android. 

Pixel 5G devices can now access 5G in dual SIM mode 
Software updates also mean that Pixel 4a with 5G and Pixel 5 devices will now be able to access 5G even when in dual SIM mode (eSIM+physical SIM DSDS).


And as a bonus, we recently announced a new Google Fit feature that allows you to measure your heart rate and respiratory rate using just your phone’s camera. This feature will roll out to Pixel owners next week (and is not intended for medical purposes). 



1. Works with Pixel 2 or newer phones. Requires Android R, Camera Update 8.1 (Nov. 2020), Dive Case Connector app for Google Camera, KRH04 or KRH03 Kraken Sports Universal Smart Phone Housing (sold separately). See g.co/pixel/dive-case-connector-setup for more information on setup. Google is not responsible for the operation of Kraken Sports products or their compliance with any applicable safety or other requirements. Photo captured on Pixel 5 using KRH03 Kraken Sports Universal Smart Phone Housing. Kraken Sports is a registered trademark of Kraken Sports Ontario, Canada. 
2. Transcription is available in English only. Recorder sharing requires an Internet connection and a Google Account. 
3. Cloud storage requires an Internet connection and a Google Account. 
4. Your Pixel will receive feature drops during the applicable Android update and support periods for the phone. See g.co/pixel/updates for details.
5. Requires a 5G data plan (sold separately). 5G service not available on all carrier networks or in all areas. Contact carrier for details. 5G service, speed and performance depend on many factors including, but not limited to, carrier network capabilities, device configuration and capabilities, network traffic, location, signal strength and signal obstruction. Actual results may vary. Some features are not available in all areas. Data rates may apply. See g.co/pixel/networkinfo for info. 
 


Posted by Shenaz Zack, Group Product Manager

A new choice for parents of tweens and teens on YouTube

“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

What people are saying about Australia’s proposed News Media Bargaining Code

Microsoft’s take on Australia’s proposed law is unsurprising — of course they'd be eager to impose an unworkable levy on a rival and increase their market share. 

But in its eagerness, Microsoft makes numerous claims that have been thoroughly and independently debunked. 

We have long been committed to supporting high-quality content on the web. Our issue is absolutely not with paying news organizations — we’ve done this for many years. Today Google News Showcase is paying publishers, and supporting local journalism, in Australia and over a dozen countries. Through these partnerships, we are paying significant amounts to support news organizations large and small — with more to come. 

But we and others have pointed to significant concerns with the proposed Australian law, while proposing reasonable amendments to make it work. The issue isn’t whether companies pay to support quality content; the issue is how. The law would unfairly require unknown payments for simply showing links to news businesses, while giving, to a favored few, special previews of search ranking. Those aren’t workable solutions and would fundamentally change the Internet, hurting the people and businesses who use it. But there are better ways, and we’re committed to making progress.

Don't take our (or Microsoft’s) word for it. Here's what others are saying, from a former Australian Prime Minister, to the Business Council of Australia, to the inventor of the web.

What people are saying about Australia’s proposed News Media Bargaining Code
10:25
Quote from the Business Council of Australia
An image of a quote from the FT editorial board
An image of a quote from Sir Tim Berners Lee

Answering your top questions about Google News Showcase

Update on 11 February 2021: 


We’re excited to be announcing News Showcase partnerships with publishers all around the world. So far, seven Australian publishers – representing more than 25 titles – have signed on to our licensing program including Crikey, The Conversation, The New Daily and regional newspapers from Australian Community Media. Across the world more than 450 publications are now Showcase partners, including The Financial Times, New Statesman and The Telegraph in the UK, Le Monde in France, Der Spiegel in Germany, and global news brands like Reuters. 


We believe that News Showcase is the right way to make payments to publishers under the Government’s proposed News Media Bargaining Code. It offers a way to support public interest journalism and help secure the future of the news industry without breaking Google Search. We're in discussions with publishers large and small and as we're looking to make Showcase available with more partners in Australia, we wanted to answer your top questions about this new program, how it's supporting publishers, and how it'd work under the News Media Bargaining Code:


What is Google News Showcase?

News Showcase is a product and licensing program that benefits publishers and readers. Readers get more insight on the stories that matter to them with curated story panels across several Google services. Participating news publishers will increase their revenue through monthly payments from Google, including for access to paywalled content to provide users free access to select stories. On top of this, news publishers can grow their business through high-value traffic to their sites and deeper relationships with their audience.

News Showcase in Australia

What is the benefit of Showcase to publishers?

News Showcase helps publishers deepen their relationships with their readers by utilising their branding and presentation to present content in a way that’s true to their look and feel. It also adds to the sustainability of news businesses where participating News Showcase publishers receive a fixed monthly fee for curating their articles on News Showcase, and in some cases for providing access to articles behind their paywall so that readers can see the value of becoming subscribers and publishers can build a relationship with readers.  Showcase drives clicks through to news brands’ websites, giving publishers the opportunity to monetise that traffic through ads or subscriptions––on top of the fee. 


What is the benefit of Showcase to users?

Users get a richer news experience from trusted news organisations and can discover publications covering their interests and the places they care about. News Showcase panels allow people to dive deeper into a story and see a list of important articles updated multiple times per day by their favourite publishers.  


What is Google paying for?

Payments are made for the publishers’ curatorial expertise for beyond-the-paywall access and to curate content for story panels. Publishers receive monthly fees, which are intended to provide payments over three years. News Showcase is not a pay-per-click model, anything publishers get in terms of additional traffic from story panels or new subscribers is on top of that fee.


Where does it appear?

The Google News App

Google News Showcase story panels are now live in the Google News app. To view, navigate to news.google.com on your mobile, or you can download the app. (Android, iOS)

Discover

The panels are starting to roll out on Discover on iOS today, and will be visible to Australian users in the coming days. Discover appears in the Google Search App on mobile devices. The Google App is preinstalled on Android devices and can be downloaded for iOS here.

Some Android devices (for example the Google Pixel Phone), also feature Discover on the “-1 screen”, or the screen you see when you “swipe to the left”. 

An example of different New Showcase panel layouts from our publishing partners in Australia

How can I see story panels today?

If you open the Google News app and navigate to the newsstand tab, you’ll see a carousel of story panels. And if you follow one of the publishers who are part of this initial launch, you might see one of the panels in your For You feed in the app. 


Where is News Showcase operating?

News Showcase is live in Australia, Germany, Brazil, the UK and Argentina.  Participating publishers there have created tens of thousands of panels which have been seen by millions of users across Google News and Discover on Android and iOS. More than 450 publications, large and small, have signed up in a dozen countries including Reuters, the Financial Times, the Independent, the Evening Standard, Der Spiegel, Le Monde. We will continue to sign up and launch more. We are operational and readying for launch in many more countries, including France, Canada  and Japan.


What have publishers said about News Showcase?

Australian publishers:

  • Australian Community Media: "As a digital and content-focused media company serving Australia's major regional population centres, ACM is always looking for new ways for our trusted news brands to deliver their unrivalled local news coverage to the widest possible audience. Whether it's on our new apps or our websites, via podcasts, social media, newsletters or the printed newspaper, we want the journalism of mastheads like The Canberra Times and Newcastle Herald to reach our communities wherever they are. Showcase is an opportunity for our 14 daily titles to curate their trusted local journalism for Google News users and we are working constructively with Google to explore the exciting potential of this product to engage mobile audiences," says Tony Kendall, CEO of Australian Community Media ( a leading rural and regional media network).

  • The Conversation Media Group: “In recent years we've noticed Google has been increasing its effort to promote journalism that has gone through a rigorous process of fact checking. The Conversation only works with academics who are experts in their field, and all our articles are carefully curated by professional journalists. This means we're in a perfect position to work with Google to try and provide a stream of reliable information that can meet the needs of audiences,” Lisa Watts, CEO of The Conversation Media Group, (a global journalism network).

  • Schwartz Media: "This is a chance to take a leading role in putting quality journalism in front of people. It helps take the rigour of what we do at The Saturday Paper, The Monthly and 7am and connect it to broader audiences. It is one way of addressing the age of misinformation in which we live, ” says Rebecca Costello, CEO of Schwartz Media (an independent media organisation that publishes in-depth, original public interest reporting, focusing on storytelling and insight).

  • Solstice Media: “With local news under stress, finding new channels and new audiences for our premium content, in safe and curated environments, is a high priority. This opportunity will give us access to new markets and provide additional commercial benefits,” says Paul Hamra, Managing Director, Solstice Media (publisher of Australian news titles including InQueensland and InDaily in South Australia).

International publishers:

  • Reach: "We welcome this initiative and its potential to give public interest journalism a more visible platform in Google. For us, public interest journalism thrives when it is not just about recording events but is of genuine interest to the public and is able to attract an audience that means it is sustainable. Google's work here will help give readers a new way to discover news which is important to them, which they may not otherwise have discovered." David Higgerson, Chief Audience Officer, Reach (the largest commercial publisher in the U.K, with many regional and national brands).

  • The Telegraph:"We have a longstanding partnership with Google and we are pleased to be launch partners for News Showcase. We welcome the registration and subscription sampling opportunities that News Showcase will provide to Google users and we are confident that many of them will go on to become Telegraph subscribers," says Chris Taylor, COO, The Telegraph.

  • Reuters: “Reuters is committed to developing new ways of providing access to trusted, high-quality and reliable global news coverage at a time when it’s never been more important. We are thrilled to join Google as the first global news partner on News Showcase,” Eric Danetz, Global Head of Revenue, Reuters (press releasehere).


What publishers have signed on to Showcase in Australia?

There are 25 publications from leading Australian publishers that have signed up. We focused on regional and digital natives in our first wave of outreach because we believe News Showcase helps them find new audiences and build deeper relationships in a highly concentrated market. We are in talks with many more - large and small. 


How could News Showcase work under the Code?

We have proposed to make Google News Showcase subject to the News Media Bargaining Code, that means if a publisher is discussing a News Showcase deal with Google, and they’re not happy with the negotiation, they could go to an arbitration to resolve any disagreement (please find more info on how News Showcase would work under the Code in our submission to the Australian Senate). 

We know this is a workable solution because we've been able to do deals with publishers around the world. We’re committed to investing in the future of our Showcase product, to enable us to support Australian journalism in line with the goals of the Code.


What’s the difference between France and Australia?

We have offered (and agreed) similar deals for News Showcase in Australia as in France and many other countries around the world. Our concerns about the Code In Australia are about being asked to pay for all links and snippets which the European Copyright Directive does not. Links and snippets are the building blocks of the free and open web. Sir Tim Berners Lee, in his submission, agrees.

In Australia, we’re proposing to pay publishers for value with News Showcase. The difference to other places would be that News Showcase would operate under the Code, that means Australian publishers can go to arbitration on News Showcase to solve any disagreements.