Why Snapchat is opposing Australia's ban on users below 16
Snapchat has opposed the Australian government's proposal to increase the minimum age for social media usage from 13 to 16. The company says that if such a law were enacted, its enforcement should fall under the purview of tech giants like Apple and Google. This stance comes as Australia is evaluating age verification technology, amid ongoing debates about the impact of social media on younger demographics.
User base and unique positioning
Snapchat has a significant user base in Australia, with the majority of its eight million users falling within the 13 to 24 age bracket. The company differentiates itself as an "anti-social media company," prioritizing personal messaging over algorithm-driven content distribution. Jacqueline Beauchere, Snapchat's global head of platform safety, emphasized this point during her interview with Guardian Australia.
Stance on age restrictions and family involvement
Beauchere is currently in Sydney, meeting with key stakeholders including Julie Inman Grant, the Australian eSafety Commissioner. She believes that decisions regarding when teenagers should start using social media are best made by families. Beauchere stated, "The age might be 13, the age might be 16, but not every 13-year-old is the same, and not every 14, 15, 16-year-old is the same." She further highlighted factors such as emotional intelligence and resilience as crucial considerations in this decision-making process.
Commitment to user safety and abuse prevention
Despite its stance on age restrictions, Snapchat has been linked to instances of bullying and sextortion. In response to these concerns, Beauchere assured that the company is committed to equipping users with tools to report, black, and prevent abuse on its platform. She expressed her desire to make Snapchat an unwelcoming environment for illegal activities by monitoring account behavior for signs of sextortion, and implementing safety measures like preventing friend requests from high-risk locations.
Snapchat's response to potential age verification enforcement
If the Australian government decides to raise the minimum age to 16 and enforce it through age verification technology, Snapchat believes this responsibility should lie with device manufacturers and operating system owners. Ajit Mohan, the company's president for the Asia Pacific region, told Guardian Australia that they view this as an industry-wide issue requiring a collective solution.
