When power goes unquestioned: Who protects young people?

Two stories that raise important questions about influence, accountability and the responsibility businesses have to protect young people.

When young people are placed in environments where adults hold significant influence, the responsibility to protect them cannot rest on the young person alone.

Recent stories involving the K-pop group NewJeans and allegations concerning British author David Walliams raise different but important questions about power, accountability and the responsibility organisations have when young people are involved.

While the circumstances are different, both highlight the importance of clear boundaries, appropriate oversight and a culture where concerns can be raised and taken seriously.

When commercial interests come before young people's rights

The dispute involving K-pop group NewJeans and their agency ADOR has brought renewed attention to the power imbalance that can exist between young performers and the organisations managing their careers.

The members entered the entertainment industry at a young age, in a highly commercial environment where decisions about contracts, careers and public image are largely managed by adults and powerful organisations.

The situation has raised questions about the extent to which young performers understand the agreements they enter, how their interests are protected and whether they have meaningful support when disagreements arise.

Young people working in entertainment are not simply talent or commercial assets. They are children and young adults whose rights, wellbeing and development must remain central to decisions being made about them.

Organisations working with young performers need to consider more than contractual obligations. They also need to think about the power they hold, the influence they have and the safeguards in place to ensure young people are heard and supported.

When admiration creates responsibility

Recent allegations involving David Walliams have also raised questions about the responsibility that comes with influence, particularly when a public figure has a significant following among children and families.

Walliams has denied the allegations, which have not been tested in court. However, the reporting has prompted wider discussion about the responsibility organisations have when working with people who hold positions of trust or have access to young audiences.

For businesses, this is not just a question of reputation or public relations. It is about understanding the environments they create and the relationships they facilitate.

When a business engages a public figure, creator, ambassador or performer, it should consider the nature of their influence, the audiences they reach and the safeguards needed when children are involved.

What good safeguarding looks like when working with young fans

Businesses engaging with public figures or creators should consider practical safeguards, including:

Keeping communication between adults and young fans on public, monitored or appropriately supervised channels.
Ensuring events and appearances involving children have clear supervision arrangements.
Establishing codes of conduct and expectations that apply to everyone, regardless of their profile or status.
Providing clear and accessible ways for children, parents and staff to raise concerns.

These measures should not depend on whether someone is well known, commercially valuable or trusted by the organisation.

Safeguarding is part of a culture of accountability

There is a broader lesson here for businesses. The behaviours and systems that help prevent harm to children are closely connected to the foundations of a safe and accountable workplace.

Organisations already recognise the importance of preventing workplace sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination. They establish expectations around behaviour, provide reporting pathways and have responsibilities to act when concerns arise.

Child safeguarding should be approached with the same level of commitment. It is not a separate issue that only matters when children are directly involved in a business’s day-to-day operations.

A culture where people understand boundaries, feel able to speak up and know that concerns will be taken seriously helps create safer environments for everyone.

Importantly, children are often in an even more vulnerable position. They may not recognise inappropriate behaviour, understand their rights or feel confident challenging an adult, particularly someone they admire or depend on.

That makes the responsibility on organisations even greater.

Safeguarding is everyone's business

Children interact with businesses in more ways than many organisations realise. They attend events, engage with brands online, visit retail and entertainment venues, participate in promotional activities and follow public figures and creators.

Businesses may also employ people who have contact with children through their work, partnerships or community activities.

This means safeguarding is relevant well beyond organisations traditionally associated with children, such as schools, childcare and sporting organisations.

It does not mean businesses are responsible for monitoring every aspect of an employee’s private life. It does mean they should understand where safeguarding risks may arise, establish clear standards of behaviour and have systems to identify, escalate and respond to concerns appropriately.

Businesses should be asking themselves:

Where do children interact with our business, directly or indirectly?
Do our contracts, partnerships and events adequately consider the rights and safety of young people?
Are expectations around professional boundaries and behaviour clear?
Can children, families and employees raise concerns through accessible pathways?
Does our culture support people to speak up, regardless of who is involved?
Are we prepared to act when concerns arise, even when doing so may be commercially or reputationally difficult?

These are not questions that can be answered by a policy alone. They require leadership, accountability and a genuine commitment to putting children’s safety first.

It's on us, not them.

Children should not have to navigate power imbalances, challenge inappropriate behaviour or work out how to protect themselves in environments created and managed by adults.

The responsibility sits with the organisations, businesses and people who hold the power to make those environments safer.

Safeguarding is not simply a compliance requirement. It is part of responsible business practice and the role every organisation can play in protecting children and young people.

It’s on us, not them.

Find out more about the On Us Coalition and how your business can take action: https://onus.org.au/take-action/

Sources

NewJeans and ADOR: https://rollingstonephilippines.com/music/newjeans-contract-ador-nyt-report/
David Walliams reporting: https://www.itv.com/news/2026-11-10/david-walliams-allegations-deeply-troubling-downing-street-says
ABC coverage: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-11/david-walliams-grooming-sexual-misconduct-accusations-uk-media/107371962