‘We strongly disagree’: Snapchat begrudgingly removes teens from app
Snapchat follows Meta in begrudgingly locked kids out of their accounts
Snapchat has become the second platform to implement age verification measures in Australia, ahead of the social media minimum age act (SMMA) coming into effect on December 10.
Starting this week, Snapchat users who appear to be under 16 will be asked to verify their age through their bank’s Connect ID feature; by scanning a passport, drivers licence, or any state-issued ID; or by taking a selfie and running it through a third-party facial-age estimation tool.
In a blog post explaining the changes, Snapchat stresses it will not be able to access any facial scans, bank account details, or any other information provided during this process.
Just because Snapchat doesn’t want to be called social media, it doesn’t mean that they don’t get classified as social media when they function like social media.
In the same breath as saying that they are a “video messaging app” and not a social media app, they go on to talk about how they are saddened that young Aussies are no longer able to ‘connect’ via their app. Someone give Snapchat a dictionary so that they can look up what the word social means LOL.
If any of these apps needs age restrictions then it would be Snapchat, especially with their suss ephemeral photo sending function and heatmap of where snap users have publicly posted in the area.
I am particularly amused with the “disconnecting teens from their friends and family doesn’t make them safer” statement. Like these kids are unable to connect with their friends and family with a phone call, SMS or even face-to-blooming-face.
Read the room Snapchat!