Snapchat Fails Age Checks, Parents Frustrated

0:00In Sydney, it's March 11th, and here's what is going on. Australia's world-first social media ban for anyone under 16 is spacing hurdles just three months in. Parents have been urged to report their kid's sneaky accounts directly to platforms, but groups like eSafety say some companies aren't following. Through, for instance, Snapchat has rejected reports when teens lie about their age. Take one Tasmanian mom, who flagged her 14-year-old Snapchat account this month. The company checked it out, but kept it active because the boy listed himself as 25, with no other red flags in his behavior. Snap worries that acting on every tip could spark fake complaints against older users. Parents are filling the pinch, with many sharing stories of balanced reports and frustration over the extra work. eSafety has heard these complaints and stresses, platforms to trigger age checks on reports, not just trust self-reported ages or quick scans. Officials worry it's shifting the enforcement burden back to families. A recent survey of nearly 300 kids, aged 10 to 16, found 70% still hanging onto their accounts despite the December rollout.

1:08Back in January, the government highlighted millions of accounts removed, but gaps remain, especially without better checks at sign-up through devices. Or, app stores, eSafety is now wrapping up investigations into non-compliant platforms and launching a long-term study tracking over 4,000 teens in parents. In one case, after questions from reporters, Snapchat finally shut down the teens account once parents provided proof. This episode is supported by our sponsor, C Details in the Description. What is cooler than cool, a pillow that plays your sound? S-O-L-I-S-O-L-Pillow.com