Social media companies will face fines of up to $50 million for breaching new age limit laws proposed by the Albanese government.
This has been confirmed to include Snapchat, following previous concerns it wouldn't be including in these rulings.
However, the Government has said that messaging services, such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, will be exempt along with YouTube.
Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman welcomed the Snapchat addition to the ban, saying the Opposition “will work in good faith with the government to finalise this legislation”.
The fines would be issued to social media platforms found to be “systematically” breaching the age limit laws.
These controversial laws, introduced in Federal Parliament today, would see children under the age of 16 banned from using social media.
The Albanese government says this would be enforced using age assurance technology, that has yet to be specified.
The Greens and some crossbenchers are not supporting the bill, saying they require more detail first.
The latest tech available to accurately identify age online was reported as “immature but developing” in March of last year, by the eSafety Commissioner.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the proposed legislation would also require social media companies to take steps in blocking those under 16 from joining their platforms.