Snapchat will begin notifying users believed to be under 16 that their accounts will be deactivated when Australia's social media ban for under-16s takes effect on 10 December. The platform estimates around 440,000 users in Australia are aged 13 to 15.
Notifications will be sent in-app, via email or SMS this week to users flagged as likely underage. Snapchat uses behavioural signals based on account activity, in addition to self-declared ages, to identify affected accounts.
Users who are flagged incorrectly can verify their age through methods including ConnectID via an Australian bank account, government ID such as a passport or driver's licence, or facial age estimation via a selfie analysed by k-ID technology.
Those under 16 can download their data, including chats and memories, before 10 December. Accounts will be locked from that date until the user turns 16 and reactivates by verifying their age. Accounts locked for over three years without verification will be deleted.
Snap Inc has argued that Snapchat is primarily a messaging app and should be exempt from the ban, but will comply. A spokesperson expressed sadness that young Australians can no longer connect via the platform but confirmed accounts will be disabled for under-16s from 10 December.
Snapchat is the second platform to announce implementation details, following Meta's alerts last week. TikTok and Kick have said they will comply but have not outlined steps, while Reddit, Twitch, X, and YouTube have yet to state their positions.
