In a sweeping move to protect young people online, Australia will officially block citizens younger than 16 from accessing major social media platforms, with the ban coming into full effect on 10 December 2025.
Snapchat is the latest platform to outline its compliance strategy, joining Meta in implementing the government's directive. The app has begun notifying an estimated 440,000 users in Australia who are believed to be under the age of 16.
The Verification Process: How Snapchat Will Enforce the Ban
This week, Snapchat started sending in-app alerts, emails, and SMS messages to users it has identified as likely being under the age threshold. The platform is using a combination of behavioural signals from account activity and self-declared age information to build its list of affected accounts.
If a user is flagged as under 16, they will be prompted to verify their age to prevent their account from being locked. Snapchat is offering three primary methods for this verification:
- Using ConnectID via an Australian bank account.
- Submitting a government ID such as a passport or driver's licence.
- Undergoing facial age estimation, which involves taking a selfie analysed by technology from the age-assurance company k-ID.
Account Lockdown and Data Preservation
For users who are under 16 or who fail to complete the verification process, their accounts will be locked from 10 December. Before this deadline, affected users are being given the option to download their personal data, including chats, memories, and videos.
A locked account will remain inaccessible until the user turns 16, at which point they can reactivate it by verifying their age. However, accounts that remain locked and unverified for more than three years will be permanently deleted.
Industry Disagreement and Wider Implementation
Despite its compliance, Snapchat's parent company, Snap Inc., has publicly expressed its disagreement with the ban. The company argued to a Senate inquiry that Snapchat is primarily a visual messaging app for connecting with friends and family, a function that is otherwise exempt from the ban.
A Snapchat spokesperson stated, We are deeply saddened that young Aussies can no longer connect with their nearest and dearest via Snapchat. Nevertheless, the company has confirmed it will disable the accounts of under-16s as required.
While Snapchat and Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram) have detailed their plans, other platforms are still finalising their approach. TikTok and Kick have pledged to comply but have not yet released their implementation steps. The position of other major platforms, including Reddit, Twitch, X, and YouTube, remains unclear.
