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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Business
Josh Taylor Technology reporter

From zero to neo-Nazis: what under-16s may see under Australia’s social media ban, simply by not logging in

Examples of content presented to logged-out users of TikTok and YouTube include an AI-generated video branded with the gambling company Stake’s logo (L) and anti-immigration rally videos.
Examples of content presented to logged-out TikTok users include an AI-generated video branded with the gambling company Stake’s logo (L) and anti-immigration rally videos. Composite: Guardian design/TikTok

It was a news report related to Charlie Kirk’s assassination that flicked the switch.

In an experiment over a week in September, on an iPhone that had been wiped and factory reset, YouTube Shorts and TikTok were accessed without logging into either app. Both platforms allow users to endlessly scroll short-form videos without needing to log in.

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