Snapchat will be included in sweeping social media reforms to restrict use by teenagers, amid fears the picture messaging app will escape exemption from the reforms due to a loophole.
New legislation to be announced by the Albanian government on Thursday will ensure that the popular platform is forced to follow its age limit reforms.
It comes after Communications Minister Michelle Rowland previously raised concerns that Snapchat could be exempt from age limit reforms by defining itself as a “messaging service” more akin to texting platforms than “social media” platforms like Instagram.
“Snapchat, under the Online Safety Act, depending on how it is defined, could fall within the definition (of a messaging service)… We are very prepared to have a criteria process and see how this fits with it,” said. 2 GB last week.
The Minister will announce the Government’s new reforms during Thursday’s parliamentary session.
“The Albanese Government is introducing world-leading legislation to set 16 as the minimum age for access to social media,” Ms Rowland said. news.com.au.
‘This legislation places the onus (for the safety and mental health of young Australians) on social media platforms, not parents or children, to ensure protections are in place.
“Ultimately, this is about supporting a safer and healthier online environment for young Australians.”
Social media platform Snapchat will be forced to follow government age limit reforms
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the proposed social media ban in September, aiming to “get our children off their devices and onto the football fields.”
The move will not be welcomed by Queensland Catholic Secondary Principals’ Association head Dan McMahon, who was “stunned” at the idea that Snapchat would find a loophole.
“Of all the social media platforms I deal with…Snapchat is one of the most common,” he told A Current Affair last week.
‘Not everyone on Snapchat is an online bully, but in my experience, all online bullies use Snapchat.
“It’s a great tool to turn damage into a weapon.”
However, many still fear that many Australian teenagers will find ways to get around the new regulations.
The world’s first reforms will legislate costly penalties, up to $50 million, for companies’ failure to comply with the new laws and violations of industry codes and standards.
It will also require regulated entities to make reasonable efforts to prevent minors under 16 from creating accounts.
“This reform aims to protect young people and let parents know we have their back,” Ms Rowland said.
‘Social media has a social responsibility for the safety and mental health of young Australians.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the legislative reforms would create a “safer and healthier” online environment for teenagers.
The Minister of Communications may also exclude certain services from the definition, including messaging platforms, online games and services designed to support the health and education of users.
It will also include strict privacy provisions, including making platforms find and destroy previously collected information.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese first announced the age limit reforms in September.
Their aim is to “get our children off their devices and onto the football or netball pitches to interact with real people having real experiences”.
“And we know that social media is causing social harm,” Albanese said at the time.
“We want to make sure we get it right, but we also want to make sure we act, which is why we have said we will introduce legislation before the end of this year.”
Albanese said “enough is enough” and that his government would act to prevent harm caused by corporations and social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
‘We know that technology advances quickly. No government will be able to protect all children from all threats, but we have to do everything we can.
‘Parents are very worried about this. We know they are working without a map. No generation has faced this challenge before.’