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Most of us agree that we can’t get through a week without spending some time scrolling through our social media apps. However, they might not always have your best interests in mind. As we enter a new year, more and more people are growing concerned about their privacy and security on their smartphones. Although most smartphones come with built-in security, there are also some risks that come with the things you download to them, including apps. We spoke with tech experts about three social media apps you should delete for better privacy on your phone in 2026. Read more about them below. This Clean, Effective Powder Helps Support Muscle Growth, Endurance, And Recovery Shutterstock 1. Facebook Although Facebook is considered the blueprint for most of today's big social media apps, it's increasingly becoming more concerning in the eyes of tech and cybersecurity experts. "Facebook is the first one I recommend for deletion," says tech expert Paul DeMott. "A large number of Facebook users access their account through a web browser; however, if you install the Facebook App on your device, you now have access to how you are utilizing the app, and how you are accessing other apps and websites.

Mumbai: Snapchat India hosted the second edition of its flagship creator event, Snap with Stars, turning it into an exclusive Christmas-themed celebration for top Mumbai-based creators. Adding star power to the evening, actors Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday attended the event to meet creators and spotlight their upcoming release, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri. The intimate gathering brought creators and celebrities together through interactive games, AR-powered activities, and speed-dating style sessions designed to encourage genuine connection and collaboration. Guests also explored Snapchat’s signature AR Lenses and immersive experiences set up across the venue. A standout moment came with Ananya Panday’s official debut on Snapchat, where she launched her Public Profile using a custom Lens, promising her audience a stream of fun, candid, and authentic Snaps. Designed as a closed-door, high-engagement initiative, Snap with Stars gives select creators the opportunity to interact closely with leading personalities from entertainment and culture—reflecting Snapchat’s core focus on real, close connections and co-creation. Sharing his experience, Kartik Aaryan said, “I’ve always had a simple approach to life – be real, have fun, make people smile and never take yourself too seriously. What I like about Snapchat is how easy, quick and in-the-moment

Snapchat is the most commonly-used social media platform in reported child exploitation and abuse offences, according to new police figures. In 2024, 122,768 child sexual exploitation offences were recorded - an increase of 7,279, or 6%, on 2023. Child sexual exploitation and abuse online increased by 26%, with 51,672 crimes recorded - 42% of the total. Some 11,912 were on Snapchat, followed by Meta-owned WhatsApp and Instagram on 1,870 and 1,705. Acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs, national lead for child protection and abuse investigation, said social media platforms must do more to report crime and stop underage images being shared. "I know that these platforms, with the technology that's out there, could prevent these harms from occurring in the first instance," she said. The senior officer said parents should be able to buy their children a phone safe in the knowledge that it will be safe to use, including social platforms. The government has said it has no plans to enforce a social media ban on children to keep them safe, but ministers say they're watching Australia's ban - which started this week - with interest. Chief Constable Riggs also stopped short of calling for such a ban. "We experiment

Jerusalem Post / World News Australia leader defends social media ban as teens brag about staying online Australia's new ban on under-16s using social media faces hurdles as some young users find ways around it. Global reactions are mixed, with experts raising concerns about its effectiveness. A notification from Snapchat requesting age verification is displayed on a mobile phone as a law banning social media for users under 16 in Australia takes effect, in this picture illustration taken on December 9, 2025. (photo credit: REUTERS/Hollie Adams/Illustration) By REUTERS DECEMBER 11, 2025 05:37 Loading...

Australia's social media ban for people aged under 16 has officially started, marking a world-first push to protect children from phone addiction and online harms.  From now on, a group of social media platforms will face penalties of up to $50 million if they do not take "reasonable steps" to prevent children and teenagers aged under 16 from holding a social media account. In a video address, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese encouraged kids to "make the most of school holidays coming up, rather than spending it scrolling on your phone".  "Start a new sport, learn a new instrument or read that book that's been sitting there on your shelf for some time," he said.  "Importantly, spend quality time with your friends and your family, face to face." The government's list of age-restricted apps will almost certainly grow in the coming weeks.  Australia's online safety watchdog is keeping an eye out for other platforms that fit the criteria, and tech companies are required to constantly monitor if they are likely to be captured by the restrictions at any time.  Already, social media apps Lemon8 and Yope have been put on notice after experiencing a surge in popularity as young people have

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Quick Read Australia’s under-16 social media ban comes into effect, targeting platforms like Snapchat. Snapchat uses k-ID for age verification, offering ID scan, bank confirmation, or selfie-based checks. Experts warn that even with ‘no storage’ claims, data transmission carries privacy risks. A recent criminal case in the U.S. involved Snapchat being used to exploit a minor. Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Shines Spotlight on Snapchat Starting tomorrow, Australia will enforce a sweeping ban on social media use for children under 16 years old. The move, which has stirred debate nationwide, puts platforms like Snapchat at the heart of a new conversation: how can technology protect young users, and at what cost to privacy? Snapchat’s Age Verification: Promises and Pitfalls In anticipation of the ban, Snapchat has rolled out age-verification measures in Australia, partnering with Singapore-based company k-ID. The verification system offers three ways for users to prove they’re old enough: Confirmation from a bank using ConnectID, which sends a simple ‘yes/no’ about age eligibility via k-ID. Scanning a government-issued ID (like a passport or driver’s license), validated by k-ID with a selfie check. Taking a selfie for facial age estimation, with k-ID’s technology gauging the user’s age range. According to

It begins a live experiment studied by lawmakers frustrated by the slow enforcement of harm-minimisation efforts Australia is set to become the first country to implement a minimum age for social media use on Wednesday (Dec 10). Platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube will be forced to block more than a million accounts, marking the beginning of an expected global wave of regulation. From 1300 GMT (9 pm Singapore time), 10 of the biggest platforms will be required to block Australians under 16, or be fined up to A$49.5 million (S$42.6 million). The law received harsh criticism from major technology companies and free speech advocates, but was praised by parents and child advocates. The rollout closes out a year of speculation about whether a country can block children from using technology that is built into modern life. It begins a live experiment that will be studied globally by lawmakers who want to intervene directly, because they are frustrated by what they say is a tech industry that has been too slow to implement effective harm-minimisation efforts. Governments from Denmark to Malaysia – and even some states in the US, where platforms are rolling back trust and safety features –

Image credit – Scots Monday 8 December 2025 – Sydney, Australia Written by Swikblog News Desk An elite Sydney boys’ school is facing intense scrutiny after a 17-year-old student was allegedly assaulted during an unofficial “human tunnel” ritual, with police now investigating the incident and furious parents questioning the culture at The Scots College. The boy’s mother says her son was “lured in on Snapchat” and pressured to attend what was described as a “tradition”, only to be shoved, slapped, drenched in beer and verbally abused as he walked through a tunnel of older students. Footage of the gathering has circulated on social media, prompting a wider debate over hazing-style activities at prestigious schools and whether enough is being done to keep teenagers safe. NSW Police have confirmed they are investigating the alleged assault after receiving a complaint and footage of the gathering. Detectives from the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command are working to identify those involved and verify what occurred. For broader information on how incidents like this are handled, readers can refer to NSW Police crime and incident resources. What is alleged to have happened at the Scots College ‘human tunnel’? According to local media reports, the incident

New Delhi: Children who spend more than 30 minutes a day on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat are more likely to show a gradual decline in their ability to concentrate, according to a new study tracking over 8,000 children from around age 10 to 14. The research, conducted by scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Oregon Health & Science University in the US, examined links between screen use and symptoms related to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The four-year study followed 8,324 children in the US, recording their daily time on social media, television/videos and video games, which increased from about 30 minutes a day at age 9 to around 2.5 hours by age 13. Despite many platforms setting 13 as the minimum age, the data showed rising use well before that threshold, and children who spent substantial time on apps like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Messenger gradually developed more inattentive symptoms. Published in Pediatrics Open Science, the study did not find a similar association between attention problems and time spent watching television or playing video games. The researchers suggested that social media’s constant stream of messages and notifications, and even the anticipation