Snapchat could be exempt from social media age limit

Multimedia messaging platform Snapchat could be excluded from the proposed social media ban for children under-16s in a move the federal Opposition has labelled “outrageous”.

Laws to be introduced to Federal Parliament next week would prevent kids from accessing popular platforms Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, X, and potentially YouTube.

There will be carve outs for education and health-focused platforms as well as online gaming and messaging services, such as WhatsApp.

But there are questions about the status of Snapchat, which straddles the line between a social media site and a messaging platform.

Ms Rowland on Thursday confirmed Snapchat could fall under definition of a messaging service under the proposed laws, exempting it from the ban.

“I think some of these platforms do present themselves in different ways,” Ms Rowland told Sydney radio 2GB.

“They will argue, for example, that they are messaging services and not social media services but we need to assess that objectively against a transparent set of criteria.”

The social media age limit is set to sail through Parliament after Opposition leader Peter Dutton offered to pass the laws before Christmas.

But the Coalition is demanding Ms Rowland immediately rule out an exemption for Snapchat.

“For many Australian families, Snapchat has had a devastating impact on their children,” Shadow communications minister David Coleman said.

“The idea of having social media age limits without those limits applying to Snapchat is outrageous. It is extraordinary that the Minister is saying that Snapchat could be exempted from the laws.