Snapchat launches age checks in Australia ahead of teen social media ban | Social Media News

Snapchat has started asking Australian children and teenagers to verify their age, including using software owned by the country’s banks, according to a company spokesperson.

The move comes as Australia prepares to impose a world-first ban on social media for children under 16 from December 10.

The law, which threatens social media platforms with a fine of up to A$49.5 million ($31.95 million) for non-compliance, is one of the world’s toughest regulations targeting big tech.

In addition to Snapchat, the ban currently applies to YouTube, X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, Twitch and Kick.

In a statement on Saturday, Snapchat said users will be able to verify their age through the ConnectID app, which is linked to their bank accounts, or by using software owned by Singapore-based old-age insurance provider k-ID.

ConnectID, which is owned and used by most major Australian banks, said it would send the technology platform a “yes/no” signal indicating whether the person was over 16 based on their account details, without asking them to upload sensitive information.

“The goal here is to protect young people online without creating new privacy risks,” Andrew Black, chief executive of ConnectID, said in a statement.

In the k-ID option, users can upload government-issued ID cards to verify their age or submit photos, which the app will then use to estimate an age range.

“Keep the lines of communication open”

Snapchat previously said around 440,000 of its users in Australia were aged 13 to 15.

Snapchat added that it “strongly disagreed” with the Australian government’s assessment that it should be included in the social media ban, saying its service provides a “visual messaging application.”

“Disconnecting teens from their friends and family doesn’t make them safer – it can push them toward less secure and less private messaging apps,” he warns.

Some other apps were able to get an exception to the ban, including Discord, WhatsApp, Lego Play, and Pinterest. But the Australian authorities reserve the right to update the list of banned platforms if necessary.

A number of young people and activists have expressed concerns about the potential consequences of the new ban, including 18-year-old journalist and founder of youth news service 6 News Australia, Leo Puglisi, who told an Australian Senate inquiry that the ban would affect young people’s access to information.

UNICEF Australia also expressed concerns over implementation, saying the Australian government’s proposed changes “will not solve the problems young people face online”.

“There are a lot of good things about social media, like education and staying in touch with friends,” UNICEF Australia said in a statement.

“We think it’s more important to make social media platforms safer and listen to young people to make sure any changes are actually helpful. »

Katrina Lines, CEO of children’s therapy provider Act for Kids, said parents should start having conversations with their children as soon as possible about how they can stay connected as the ban comes into effect in the coming weeks.

“It’s important to keep the lines of communication open before and even long after these changes take effect,” Lines said.

Act for Kids said it surveyed more than 300 Australian children aged 10 to 16 and found 41 per cent would prefer to connect with their family in real life, compared to just 15 per cent who preferred to spend time online. But Lines said families still need to find ways to improve in-person connections.

“One way to start this conversation might be to ask them how they would like to stay connected with friends and family outside of social media,” she said.

Global concern

The Australian ban comes amid growing global concern over the effects of social media on children’s health and safety, and companies including TikTok, Snapchat, Google and Meta Platforms – the operator of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – face legal action in the United States for their role in fueling a mental health crisis.

Regulators around the world are closely watching whether Australia’s sweeping restrictions can work.

Malaysian Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Sunday that the Malaysian government also plans to ban social media for users under the age of 16, starting next year.

He said the government was reviewing mechanisms used in Australia and other countries to impose age restrictions on social media use, citing the need to protect young people from online harms such as cyberbullying, financial scams and child sexual abuse.

“We hope that by next year, social media platforms will comply with the government’s decision to ban under-16s from opening user accounts,” he told reporters, according to a video of his remarks posted online by local daily The Star.

In New Zealand, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is also considering introducing a similar bill aimed at restricting children’s use of social media, while Indonesia also announced it was preparing legislation to protect young people from “physical, mental or moral peril”.

In Europe, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Greece are jointly testing a model age verification app, while the Dutch government has advised parents to ban children under 15 from using social media apps like TikTok and Snapchat.