Snapchat included in Australian social media reforms for kids

The Government has confirmed that messaging app Snapchat will be included in world-first reforms* by Australia to restrict teenagers’ social media* use by introducing a minimum age of 16.

There had been questions around Snapchat’s nature as a messaging app and whether it would be included in the Government’s new laws around social media use in Australia.

But News Corp publication news.com.au has confirmed that the new laws introduced by the Government have been designed to include Snapchat.

Snapchat lets users exchange photos, videos and messages and leaves younger teenagers subjected to a constant stream of messages and updates 24-7.

Concerns it would not be included exploded last week after Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Snapchat could be defined as a “messaging service” and therefore be exempt from the age limit.

“Snapchat under the Online Safety Act*, depending on how it’s defined, could fall within that definition (of a messaging service) … We are very prepared to go through having a process of criteria and seeing how this fits against it,” Ms Rowland said.

But Shadow* Communications Minister David Coleman insisted that Snapchat must not be left out from the new laws.

“For many Australian families, Snapchat has had a devastating impact,” Mr Coleman said.

“The idea of having social media age limits without those limits applying to Snapchat is outrageous.

“The Minister must rule out exemptions* for Snapchat today.”

Queensland Catholic Secondary Principals Association director Dan McMahon had also warned that Snapchat should not be allowed to skirt the ban.

“I’ve gotta say I’m a bit gobsmacked by that, I find that extraordinary,” Mr McMahon told television current affairs program A Current Affairs last week.

“Of all the social media platforms that I deal with … Snapchat is one of the most common ones.

“Not everyone on Snapchat is an online bully, but in my experience every online bully uses Snapchat.”

Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland MP introduced the Albanese Labor Government’s new social media reforms to parliament on Thursday.

“The Albanese Government is introducing world leading legislation to establish 16 as the minimum age for access to social media,” she told news.com.au.

“This reform is about protecting young people.

“Social media has a social responsibility for the safety and mental health of young Australians.

“Ultimately, this is about supporting a safer and healthier online environment for young Australians.”

The legislation will introduce tough new penalties of up to $50 million for companies that break the rules by letting underage kids use their platforms.

It will also require the platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent young people under the age of 16 from having an account.

The Minister will be able to exclude certain classes of services from the law, including messaging services, online games, and services that serve to support the health and education of users.

It will also contain strict rules around privacy, including requiring platforms to ringfence* and destroy any information collected.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese first flagged the bans in September.

“We know that social media is doing social harm,” he said.

“We want to make sure we get it right, but we want to make sure as well that we act which is why we have said we will introduce legislation before the end of this year.”

Mr Albanese said that social media companies needed to show some social responsibility.

“We need to act as a society,” he said.

The Prime Minister declared in September that “enough is enough” as it was announced the Government would bring in age limits for social media accounts for kids to protect against the damage caused by social media giants including Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• reforms: changes to laws
• social media: web platforms where users can upload stories, photos, videos and other content to share ideas and opinions with a wide network of others
• Online Safety Act: a law introduced in 2021 that helps to protect Australians across most online platforms and forums
• Shadow: a title given to members of the opposition party, in this case, the Communications Minister from the Coalition
• exemptions: platforms or technologies that the laws don’t apply to
• ringfence: to completely separate the data

EXTRA READING
PM outlines U16 social media ban
Australia moves on social media
‘Social’ habits harming kids of Oz

QUICK QUIZ
1. Why was there doubt around whether Snapchat would be included in the reforms?
2. What will be the new minimum age for social media users under the Government’s reforms?
3. What penalties will social media companies face if they are caught allowing underage people to use their platforms?
4. Why does Queensland Catholic Secondary Principals Association director Dan McMahon believe Snapchat should be included in the under-16 ban?
5. Why has the Government brought in a minimum age for social media use?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. A new name?
Do you think that, for kids, there is any difference between “social media” and “messaging”? Can you think of one better term to describe them both so that there is no confusion? Write your term or name. Then write a sentence explaining why you chose it.

Time: allow at least 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Information Technology

2. Extension
How do you think social media companies will, realistically, be able to stop people under 16 creating and using accounts? Write a list of ideas.

Time: allow at least 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Information Technology

VCOP ACTIVITY
To sum it up
After reading the article, use your comprehension skills to summarise in a maximum of three sentences what the article is about.

Think about:

• What is the main topic or idea?
• What is an important or interesting fact?
• Who was involved (people or places)?

Use your VCOP skills to re-read your summary to make sure it is clear, specific and well punctuated.