Communications Michelle Rowland says Snapchat could be exempted from social media age limits
Hon David Coleman MP
Shadow Minister for Communications
Member for Banks
The Albanese Government must today rule out providing exemptions to the social media age limit laws to Snapchat.
Speaking on 2GB today, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Snapchat could fall within the definition of a ‘messaging service’ and therefore be exempt from the age limit. She told Ben Fordham:
“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.”
Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman said that Snapchat must not be exempted from the laws.
“For many Australian families, Snapchat has had a devastating impact on their children,” Mr 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.
“The Minister must rule out exemptions for Snapchat today.
“The Coalition will work constructively to support laws for to set an age limit of 16 for social media. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton committed the Coalition to implementing an age limit of 16 for social media in June, and we have welcomed the Government coming on board with this plan.
“But we don’t support them going weak on exemptions.”
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