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Snapchat has started requesting teenage Australians to verify their ages, according to a company spokesperson on Monday, ahead of new laws set to ban social media use for under-16s in Canberra. Starting December 10, Australian authorities will require platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to remove users under 16 or face substantial fines.
“Beginning this week, many users will be prompted to verify their age to keep using Snapchat,” the company announced. Verification options include linking an Australian bank account, showing government-issued ID, or taking a facial photo, which a third-party service will analyze to estimate age.
Effective December 10, accounts belonging to users under 16 will be locked. Snapchat advises teens to download their data promptly, as it may become difficult once the banning enforcement begins. The platform has expressed disagreement with being included in the ban but asserted its commitment to comply with local laws globally.
The company emphasized that cutting teens off from friends and family could lead them to less secure and private messaging apps, cautioning against excessive restrictions. Ten platforms, including Discord, WhatsApp, Lego Life, and Pinterest, have avoided being targeted under this legislation, though Australian regulators reserve the right to update the list.
The effectiveness of Australia’s strict restrictions is attracting worldwide attention as regulators elsewhere grapple with social media dangers. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is proposing a similar bill aimed at limiting youth social media use, while the Dutch government has advised parents to prohibit children under 15 from using apps like TikTok and Snapchat.
On paper, Australia’s law is among the harshest globally, but some experts worry that it might be largely symbolic because of the inherent challenges in enforcing online age verification measures effectively.
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