Snapchat launches teen council as experts reveal app’s hidden dangers
While experts brand it the most dangerous social platform, Snapchat has turned to Australian teenagers themselves to help solve its safety crisis.
Snapchat has launched a new first-of-its-kind council of teens from across Australia to provide insight on how to make the app safer, as experts warn it has potential to be one of the most dangerous platforms.
It comes just months before new age restrictions pushed by News Corp Australia’s Let Them Be Kids campaign are set to be enforced across social media which will see all children under the age of 16 in Australia barred from creating accounts.
Experts weighed in on Snapchat’s new action, saying while it was positive it should have happened a long time ago, before the bans set to take effect at the end of the year.
Griffith University lecturer in communication Susan Grantham said as an app, Snapchat had the potential to be the most dangerous.
“It is one of the platforms that parents should be watching carefully if their kids are on it,” she said.
“You can see the way the platform is set up and the way these images and commentary disappears, it creates a space for quite concerning behaviour to take place.”
Dr Grantham said while the bans were coming into effect soon, kids under 16 would very soon be of an age to sign back on.
“This is what I’m assuming Snapchat is trying to do – they’re recognising that ‘if there are problems with our platform, the people who can help us with that are the ones experiencing problems’.”
Student and member of the council Aadya Verma, 15, of Brisbane’s Indooroopilly, started using social media at the age of 14 and said some things she would bring to the table would be raising awareness about online safety through different projects.
“(And) talking about important issues teens face online such as unwanted inappropriate content, and cyber-bullying, and finding ways to make reporting more accessible for teens online,” she said.
“I applied to join this teen council because I thought this was a great opportunity for the youth to have their voices and ideas heard. Furthermore, it’s a great opportunity and experience for me to help other teens feel safer and more comfortable online.”
Aadya said the Australian teen council for Snapchat had been an amazing experience so far.
Snap Inc managing director in Australia and New Zealand Ryan Ferguson said teens were the real experts when it came to the digital world.
“We were thrilled to welcome an amazing group of civic-minded, smart and engaged young Australians from all across the country to our Sydney office to kick things off,” Mr Ferguson said.
“As the program continues to roll out over the months to come, their ideas, energy and real-life experiences will help shape a better, more positive digital future for everyone.”
Originally published as Snapchat launches teen council as experts reveal app’s hidden dangers
