Snapchat Blocks 415,000 Accounts in Australia as Under-16 Social Media Ban Takes Effect

Snapchat has blocked or disabled around 415,000 accounts in Australia as it moves to comply with the country’s world-first law banning children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, the company confirmed on Monday.

The legislation, which came into force on December 10, 2025, has triggered a sweeping enforcement drive across the tech industry. Australia’s eSafety regulator said last month that major platforms, including Meta, TikTok and YouTube, have collectively restricted about 4.7 million accounts since the rules took effect.

Under the new law, companies face penalties of up to A$49.5 million (about $34 million) if they fail to take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-age access.

For many Australian teenagers, the crackdown has meant an abrupt end to daily social media use. Accounts flagged as potentially under 16 are now locked, with users greeted by a notice stating their access has been restricted. Those aged 16 or older can regain access by verifying their age, while younger users remain permanently blocked from the platform’s social features.

Snapchat said affected users would still be able to download their stored “Memories” data until their accounts are unlocked. “We look forward to seeing you back on Snapchat when you’re 16,” the company said in an in-app message.

Despite the large-scale enforcement, Snapchat has raised concerns over the accuracy of existing age-estimation technologies, arguing that they can be off by two to three years. The company warned this could result in some under-age users slipping through safeguards, while others who meet the age requirement may be wrongly excluded.

“We continue to lock more accounts daily,” Snapchat said in an online statement, adding that the current system risks leaving users with “reduced safeguards”.

Alongside Meta, Snapchat has urged Australian authorities to consider shifting age verification to app stores, arguing that checks by Apple and Google before downloads would create higher barriers to bypassing the law.

The company also questioned the broader approach of the ban, saying it views Snapchat primarily as a private messaging service rather than a traditional social media feed. “We do not believe that cutting teens off from these relationships makes them safer, happier, or better off,” Snapchat said.

For now, however, Australia’s age-based restrictions remain in force, marking a global test case for regulating young people’s access to social media.