Australia is set to implement one of the world's most stringent social media bans for young people, with Snapchat preparing to block hundreds of thousands of users under the age of 16 from accessing their accounts starting 10 December 2025.
Mass Account Lockdown Imminent
The social media platform has begun notifying approximately 440,000 Australian users believed to be aged between 13 and 15 that their accounts will be deactivated when the new regulations take effect. Snap Inc, Snapchat's parent company, revealed this staggering figure during a recent Senate inquiry, highlighting the scale of the impending digital exclusion.
Notifications are being delivered this week through multiple channels including in-app alerts, email, and SMS messages. The platform is using a combination of behavioural signals based on account activity and self-declared age information to identify potentially underage users.
Age Verification Methods Explained
Users flagged as under 16 who believe they've been incorrectly identified will need to undergo rigorous age verification to maintain access to their accounts. Snapchat is offering three primary methods for age confirmation:
- ConnectID verification through an Australian bank account
- Submission of government-issued identification such as a passport or driver's licence
- Facial age estimation technology provided by age-assurance company k-ID, which analyses user selfies
The verification process begins when users encounter a "verify your age" prompt within the application. Those who fail to complete this process or are genuinely under 16 will see their accounts locked from 10 December 2025.
Data Preservation and Account Recovery
Affected users under 16 have been given the opportunity to download their personal data including chats, memories, and videos before the December deadline. Locked accounts will remain inaccessible until the user turns 16, at which point they can reactivate their profile by successfully verifying their age.
Accounts that remain locked for more than three years without age verification will be permanently deleted from Snapchat's systems, resulting in irreversible data loss for those users.
Despite complying with the legislation, Snapchat has expressed strong opposition to its inclusion in the ban. The company argues that its primary function as a visual messaging app should exempt it from the restrictions, noting that "maintaining friendships is a key contributor to happiness and well-being" for teenagers.
A Snapchat spokesperson stated: "We are deeply saddened that young Aussies can no longer connect with their nearest and dearest via Snapchat. However, even though we strongly disagree with the government's assessment, we will disable accounts for users under 16 from December 10."
Snapchat becomes the second major platform to outline its implementation strategy following Meta's recent announcements regarding Facebook and Instagram restrictions. While TikTok and Kick have committed to compliance, they haven't yet detailed their specific approaches. Several other platforms including Reddit, Twitch, X, and YouTube remain silent on whether they will adhere to the Australian government's controversial social media age restrictions.
