YouTube pranksters the Jalals front court

A lawyer for the Jalals has asked a Melbourne magistrate to place the YouTube pranksters on a diversion order so they can avoid a criminal record.

Mariwan Jalal, 20, also known as Max, and his brother Arman, 18, appeared in the court on Friday where defence lawyer Thea Milides said they wanted to turn their enterprise into a reputable business.

The brothers were arrested in February, along with a 16-year-old co-accused, and charged with public nuisance offences in relation to videos uploaded onto YouTube that depict violence and drive-by shootings.

The brothers say their videos were shot with family and friends.

Ms Milides told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday the young men's aim was to create satirical videos so exaggerated they could not be mistaken for real events.

Their videos are a "ridiculous exaggeration" involving "fake, fluffy Santa Claus-style beard" and an imitation gold machine gun that was actually a hookah, she said.

The videos feature over-the-top Middle Eastern characters to confront stereotypes, she said.

"They are muslim themselves so it's not racial vilification," Ms Milides said.

"They're making a mockery of it to emphasise its satire."

Police prosecutor Paul Rudd said the videos initially prompted an increase in calls to the national security hotline.

However he did not oppose the request for a diversion order on the condition the Jalals make a public apology and statement confirming the videos are fake.

Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg adjourned the matter until next Friday.

A children's court judge adjourned the 16-year-old's matter until June 10.