KATHMANDU: Snapchat has blocked 415,000 accounts belonging to users under 16 in Australia following the country’s new social media ban for underage users, the company confirmed on Monday. However, Snapchat warned that some young users may still bypass age verification technology.
Under the legislation, which took effect on December 10, 2025, platforms including Snapchat, Meta, TikTok, and YouTube must prevent underage users from holding accounts. Companies failing to take “reasonable steps” face fines of up to AUS$49.5 million (US$34 million). Australia’s eSafety regulator reported last month that tech giants had already blocked 4.7 million accounts, achieving “significant outcomes.”
Snapchat urged Australian authorities to require app stores to verify users’ ages as an “additional safeguard,” arguing that current age-estimation technology is only accurate within two to three years. This could allow some under-16 users to bypass protections, while some over-16 users might wrongly lose access.
Snapchat said it does not support an outright ban, emphasizing that its platform is mainly a messaging app used by teens to stay connected with friends and family, and cutting access may not make them safer or happier. The company joined Meta in calling for a centralized age verification system at the app-store level to improve protection and consistency.
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