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Explosive internal files reveal big tech has long known their apps are addictive for some children. These revelations of profit-first thinking come after a study by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health claiming social media can be as addictive as hazardous substances. And while a leading neuroscientist baulks at the word ‘addiction’ Dr. Anne-Noël Samaha says social media apps can definitely be “habit forming” and that means withdrawals when stopping. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow It all paints a concerning picture for families across Australian when, from December 10, 2025, the following platforms will be off limits for children under-16: Facebook Instagram Kick Reddit Snapchat Threads TikTok Twitch X (formerly Twitter) YouTube Social media sites caught up in the ban will have to take steps to keep young users off them. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Social media sites caught up in the ban will have to take reasonable steps to keep young users off them, or face fines of up to $49.5 million. There’s no doubt everyone’s buzzing about the ban — yet few are telling parents how to cope when their kids freak out after losing screen time. Why is

POCATELLO — An 18-year-old local man has been charged with three felony sex crimes after police say he engaged in sexual acts with a 15-year-old girl. Kenyan Andrew Metcalf, of Pocatello, was arrested Nov. 13 on charges of rape, lewd conduct with a minor, and sexual abuse of a child under 16 years of age for alleged sexual offenses that occurred during a three-week span last month, according to police and court records the Idaho State Journal obtained this week. The investigation began to unfold after one of the victim's relatives told Pocatello police on Oct. 21 the girl was having sexual relations with an adult, later identified as Metcalf, court records show. Pocatello police interviewed the victim at her school in the presence of her probation officer, during which she initially denied a sexual relationship but admitted to sneaking Metcalf into her residence late at night. Officers conducted a forensic examination of the girl's cell phone, which revealed explicit messages between her and Metcalf on Snapchat discussing sexual acts, including messages with references to sexual intercourse and other sexual contact, police said. A records check confirmed Metcalf turned 18 in May. Police obtained search warrants for both Snapchat and

CANBERRA — Snapchat has begun asking teenage Australians to verify their ages, a company spokesperson said, just weeks before Canberra enforces sweeping laws banning under-16s from social media. From December 10, Australia will force social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, to remove users under the age of 16 or face hefty fines. “Starting this week, many users will be asked to verify their age to continue accessing Snapchat,” the company said according to AFP. Users will be able to do so using an Australian bank account, government-issued identification, or by taking a photo of their face which a third party will then use to provide an estimated age range. From December 10, users under 16 will have their accounts locked. Snapchat, like other social media platforms, has advised teen users to download their data as soon as possible as it may be tricky to do so once the ban starts. The messaging app said it strongly disagreed with being included in the government’s ban but “we will comply, as we do with all local laws in countries in which we operate”. “However, disconnecting teens from their friends and family doesn’t make them safer — it may push them

Cybersecurity experts have raised significant concerns regarding the age verification methods proposed by Snapchat as part of Australia’s upcoming ban on social media access for those under 16. Effective December 10, ten platforms, including Snapchat, will be restricted for users below this age threshold. Current estimates suggest that Snapchat has around 440,000 Australian users aged 13 to 15, making it the most impacted service by the new regulations. The app plans to implement three verification methods for Australians to demonstrate their age: using ConnectID from Australian Payments Plus to link to bank accounts, employing the Singapore-based k-ID software that estimates age via selfies, or submitting government-issued identification. However, experts are critical of these approaches, citing multiple issues related to data security and privacy. Sherif Haggag, a cybersecurity and ethical hacking expert at Adelaide University, points out a major flaw: the data collected through the age verification process is likely to leave Australia, especially with the use of k-ID. Haggag emphasizes that once this information, which may include sensitive data like selfies and passports, exits Australian jurisdiction, it becomes difficult to enforce privacy regulations. A spokesperson for the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner affirmed that the Privacy Act extends to

The new campaign highlights how Gen Z uses visual communication, targeting users, creators and advertisers, and inviting brands to engage with everyday visual conversations. Snapchat has launched Say It In A Snap, its first brand campaign in India, positioning visual expression as central to how Gen Z communicates and builds connection on the platform. The rollout focuses on three groups. For users, the campaign underlines Snapchat’s role in enabling personal, real-time exchanges. For creators, it emphasises authenticity and unfiltered storytelling. For advertisers, it frames Snapchat as a space where everyday visual interactions hold cultural and commercial value. Launching the campaign, Ankit Goyle, head of India Marketing, Snap Inc., said: “‘Say It In a Snap’ is a strategic statement about where the future of connections lies, in authentic close-knit communities. At its core, this campaign is about how Gen Z connects, expresses, and builds culture through visuals, not words. Snapchat sits at the heart of this language of communication, where every Snap is real, personal, and deeply expressive. For advertisers, it’s an invitation to be part of these everyday visual conversations and to show up authentically, build relevance, and drive meaningful impact.” The campaign features Indian Snapchatters and showcases the role

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Snapchat has launched its first India-focused brand campaign, ‘Say It In A Snap,’ marking a pivotal moment in the platform’s strategy to strengthen its cultural relevance and monetisation footprint in one of its fastest-growing markets. With over 250 million users in India, of which 90% fall between 13 and 34 years old, the campaign is designed to tap directly into the country’s Gen Z audience, whose communication style, identity expression and media consumption habits are shaping the next era of digital marketing. The campaign leverages Snapchat’s core positioning — visual-first, ephemeral communication — and reflects how young users increasingly express emotions, reactions, humour and identity through pictures, AR filters and video vernacular rather than full sentences or formal text. The rollout focuses on Mumbai, Delhi NCR, and Bengaluru, incorporating multilingual cultural nuance across Hindi, English and Kannada to make the messaging feel hyper-local and authentic. “If you notice when you see the campaign, what we've tried to do is keep it as close as possible to the way Gen Z actually communicates,” said Ankit Goyle, Head of India Marketing, Snap Inc. “There are mentions of Kannada, there are mentions of Hindi, and a lot of English in their lingo. We’ve

Evan Spiegel, the CEO of Snap Inc, in November 2023, said, “India presents a vast opportunity”, and since then, it has never looked at India as a casual growth market. Over the past two years, the company has quietly expanded its physical presence, deepened local partnerships and built capabilities around augmented reality at a pace that signals long-term intent. The numbers support that ambition. As of mid-2025, Snapchat claimed to have crossed 250 million monthly active users in India, making the country its biggest market. Nearly 90 per cent of the user base, it states, is below 34, and two-thirds of them interact with augmented-reality lenses every day.The company’s most recent earnings call reflected similar momentum. Snap posted US$1.51 billion in revenue in Q3 2025 - up 10 per cent year-on-year - and reiterated that “other revenue streams” were beginning to scale. While the global narrative focused on AR innovation and new ad formats, analysts noted that India continues to be central to the company’s growth philosophy. For Snapchat, the combination of a large Gen Z base, a rising creator ecosystem and marketers increasingly willing to diversify their media mix has created a perfect moment to claim cultural relevance. Ankit

Kyle Hayes Condon, 25, of Pairc an Tobair in Clonakilty, Co Cork pleaded guilty to counts of rape, sexual assault, assault causing harm and false imprisonment of the teenager A 25 year old man who subjected a 17 year old student to a 20 minute ordeal when he dragged her in to a secluded grassy area of an estate in West Cork and raped her has been jailed for six years. Kyle Hayes Condon of Pairc an Tobair in Clonakilty, Co Cork appeared before the Central Criminal Court in Cork today for sentencing having pleaded guilty to counts of rape, sexual assault, assault causing harm and false imprisonment of the teenager. Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford previously heard evidence in the case from Det Garda Lisa O’Sullivan. She said that that incident occurred in the early hours of February 16 of this year when the young woman got a lift home from a party. The injured party walked the last section of the journey home. She was nearly at her house when Mr Hayes Condon started following her and speaking to her. The girl was recording a Snapchat message at the time and she allowed the recording to continue so that

By Brian Carlton PUBLISHED: November 24, 2025 at 1:52 PM EST | UPDATED: November 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM EST Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... A Brooklyn Park man who used Snapchat to coerce teenage girls into sending explicit images or engaging in sex acts was sentenced Monday Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To log in, click here. RevContent Feed