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Getty Images Twitch is the latest platform to be included in Australia's teen social media ban Twitch, a streaming platform popular with gamers, has been added to Australia's teen social media ban which starts next month. It joins other platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and Snapchat that must ensure under-16s cannot open accounts and existing ones are closed from 10 December. Australia's internet regulator overseeing the ban said Twitch - owned by Amazon -has been included as its main purpose was "online social interaction" where users were encouraged to chat to each other about posted content. A Twitch spokesperson said Australians under 16 will not be able to open a Twitch account from 10 December, and from 9 January, existing under-16s accounts will be deactivated. On her reasons why Twitch had been included, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said it was "a platform most commonly used for livestreaming or posting content that enables users, including Australian children, to interact with others in relation to the content posted". No more platforms are expected to be added to the ban before the start date next month, Ms Inman Grant said. The government has previously said the ban is aimed at

Last Updated: November 21, 2025, 11:31 IST Starting 10 December, children under 16 will be removed from major social media platforms, as Australia becomes the first country to impose a blanket prohibition of this scale From 10 December, children under 16 will no longer be allowed to hold accounts on major social media platforms. (AI Generated) Australia is days away from implementing one of the world’s most far-reaching attempts to keep young teenagers off social media. From 10 December, children under 16 will no longer be allowed to hold accounts on major platforms, making Australia the first country to introduce a blanket prohibition on teen social media access at this scale. The move has been years in the making, shaped by parliamentary inquiries, testimony from families affected by online abuse and a rising political demand for stronger protections for children online. As governments worldwide watch closely, the immediate question is how the ban will actually operate and what changes platforms, users, and regulators will face once it takes effect. Recommended Stories The Australian government says the ban aims to reduce the “pressures and risks" linked to design features that keep users glued to screens and to protect children from content

Extra Police Presence, For Otherwise ‘Average’ Day By Darren Marcy Police and school officials continue to investigate a weekend threat at Randolph Union High School that saw extra security at the school Monday. RUHS Principal Lisa Floyd said Monday was outwardly a pretty normal day at the school, but behind the scenes the investigation was continuing. In a communication to families Monday, Floyd said swift action removed any possible threat. You must be an online subscriber to view this story. Please subscribe or buy this week's issue here or login below. The full version of this story will be available to all readers after 1 week. Full versions of news stories from the current week are available to online subscribers only. Access to full versions of news stories from issues older than 1 week are available to all readers for free in our archive of all issues.

Mendocino Court released a redacted 33-page search warrant Wednesday. The teenager whose interview with Ukiah police led to the arrest of Ukiah High School teacher Matthew LaFever on November 3 was a student in his journalism class, according to a search warrant submitted by Detective Zhonghao Chen and approved by Superior Court Judge Patrick Pekin at 6:54 p.m. Oct. 16, 2025. LaFever was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of knowingly annoying and/or molesting a minor. Ukiah police also said they collected evidence suggesting LaFever was reaching out to other minors in Mendocino and Sonoma counties using various social media platforms. LaFever has not responded to repeated attempts by Mendo Local to contact him. Dan Dougherty, communications and community engagement officer at the Ukiah Unified School District, said LaFever was working part-time and teaching three classes: work experience, journalism and advanced journalism. The 33-page search warrant was filed in Superior Court this week and released in redacted form on Wednesday. Mendo Local reviewed the warrant at the Ukiah courthouse. According to the warrant, the teenager told officers she created a Snapchat account under an alias and was added by LaFever, whose phone number she had saved in her contacts. During their

Home Technology Snapchat launches Topic Chats to help users join trending conversations safely Snapchat has introduced Topic Chats, a new feature that lets users join public conversations around trending topics while keeping their profiles private. Here’s how the feature works, where you’ll see it, and why it’s designed for safer, more engaging chats. November 19, 2025 / 16:13 IST Snapchat Snapchat is adding a new feature that changes the way people talk about trending moments on the app. While Snapchat has always been built around private chats between friends, the company has noticed that more users are now reacting publicly to viral topics and popular events. To support this shift, Snapchat is introducing Topic Chats, a new type of public conversation space designed for the things everyone is talking about. Over the next few weeks, users in the US, Canada and New Zealand will start seeing Topic Chats appear in different parts of the app — inside chat shortcuts, in the search bar, on the Stories page and on Spotlight videos. If you’re browsing Snapchat and come across a big yellow button that says “Join the Chat”, that means a Topic Chat is available. A single tap pulls you straight

Snapchat has introduced “Topic Chats,” a new feature enabling public conversations, moving beyond its traditional focus on private communication. The feature allows users to discuss diverse subjects, from Formula 1 to “Below Deck.” Profiles remain private from non-friends, preventing unsolicited friend requests and direct messages. While a user’s display name appears next to their message, it is not clickable to their profile from a Topic Chat. Snapchat informed TechCrunch that it will deploy LLM technology and unspecified safety measures to moderate Topic Chats, ensuring adherence to its Community Guidelines. Users can report inappropriate messages. The company plans to act against policy violators, which includes warnings and account blocks. Stay Ahead of the Curve! Don't miss out on the latest insights, trends, and analysis in the world of data, technology, and startups. Subscribe to our newsletter and get exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox. Users can view the Topic Chats their friends have joined, facilitating discovery of shared interests. The chats integrate related Spotlight videos, Snapchat’s short-form video platform. Previously, public conversations on Snapchat were restricted to Spotlight comments. The company developed Topic Chats in response to community engagement in these public comment sections, seeking to offer additional avenues for

Content Skip to Main Content Accessibility Help news Top Stories Local Climate World Canada Politics Indigenous Business The National Health Entertainment Science CBC News Investigates Disability Life Go Public About CBC News Being Black in Canada P.E.I. man to spend 4 years in prison for sexual offences involving teen he met on Snapchat November 17 | Duration 2:10 November 17 News Duration 2:10 A 23-year-old Charlottetown man has been sentenced to four years in jail for sexual offences involving a teenage girl whom he met on Snapchat. In court Monday, P.E.I.’s Crown prosecutor said social media channels are becoming a much more common place for people to find their victims. CBC’s Wayne Thibodeau has more. Related Stories P.E.I. man sentenced to 4 years for sexual offences involving teen he met on Snapchat Man used Snapchat, Uber Eats to lure and sexually assault Sarnia girl, 14, police allege Ontario Grade 8 teacher pleads guilty to sex crimes against students Former Montreal youth baseball coach who sexually assaulted teen gets 28 months in prison No 2nd trial for P.E.I. oyster farmer as Crown stays charges in criminal harassment case More from News Video 2:07 Flin Flon art exhibit highlights change, resilience after

Monday, November 17, 2025 11:39PM Man facing charges after allegedly meeting 11-year-old child on Snapchat EAST ROCKHILL TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- A 20-year-old man from East Rockhill Township, Bucks County, has been formally charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a minor, along with multiple other serious offenses. According to a criminal complaint, Kenton Exner allegedly met his 11-year-old victim through Snapchat in March. Their communication reportedly progressed to phone conversations, and eventually an in-person meeting at a local supermarket. Investigators say digital messages indicate the sexual acts began that night and continued over the following weeks and months. One incident detailed in the complaint describes the victim visiting Exner's home late at night. The document states, "Following this, Exner provided the juvenile a hooded sweatshirt and sent her to walk home the two miles in the middle of the night alone." Authorities were contacted after the victim's father reviewed her online correspondence with Exner. Exner was subsequently arrested. Danielle Bailey, a neighbor who lives down the street from the suspect, expressed concern over the allegations. "He's always hanging out with the younger kids. Never, like, with older kids his own age or anything like that," Bailey said. Bailey also

India’s Gen Z is building health into their everyday lives — step by step, click by click. The latest findings from the ET Snapchat Gen Z Index reveal that for those aged 18 to 28, fitness is not a passing trend but an essential part of identity and lifestyle. This generation is blending digital tools, social influence, and self-awareness to design what researchers describe as a “blueprint for wellbeing.” The study, powered by Kantar and based on responses from Gen Z participants across metros and Tier-1 cities, shows a clear shift from casual fitness interest to daily health engagement. Young consumers are logging workouts, tracking steps, and aligning nutrition with mood and productivity. Their approach combines physical movement with mental balance, reflecting a broader change in how they define health. Also Read| Health, hustle and hashtags: What keeps Gen Z ticking The report reveals that 80% of Gen Z respondents agreed that fitness and healthy habits have become a daily part of their lives, marking a steady consistency across Q2 and Q3. This consistency underscores how health consciousness has moved from aspiration to action — with step counts, sleep hours, and mood check-ins becoming daily rituals. From Gyms to Gadgets:

Key themes include AR, AI and creator tools in brand storytelling, new formats to engage Gen Z, and case studies showing the impact of these emerging technologies. The International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter, in collaboration with Snapchat India, has announced ‘THE VIBE’, an event aimed at young creative professionals and will feature sessions on emerging tools shaping digital storytelling. The programme will include hands-on immersion sessions focusing on how augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) are influencing brand narratives. It will introduce AR capabilities, recent campaign case studies, and interactive workshops highlighting creative applications of these technologies. Key themes of the event include the use of AR, AI and creator tools in brand storytelling, newer content formats for engaging Gen Z audiences, and case studies demonstrating their impact. Abhishek Karnani, President, IAA, said, “Our collaboration with Snapchat reflects IAA’s commitment to nurturing young talent and embracing innovation. These immersive sessions, centered on Gen Z and the evolving art of AR storytelling, align seamlessly with our vision for impactful industry engagement.” Saket Jha Saurabh, Director, Content & AR Partnerships, Snap Inc, India added, “Snapchat has always believed in the power of creativity and technology to connect people and ideas.