Snapchat blocks 415,000 under-16s accounts in Australia

Snapchat, the world's first visual messaging app, announced on Monday, February 2, 2026, that it has blocked 415,000 accounts under Australia's social media ban for under-16s but warned some youngsters may be bypassing age verification technology.

The platform urged the Australian authorities to oblige app stores to check users´ ages as an "additional safeguard" for the world-first crackdown.

Platforms including Snapchat, Meta, TikTok, and YouTube must stop underage users from holding accounts under the legislation, which came into effect on December 10, 2025.

Companies face fines of Aus$49.5 million (US$34 million) if they fail to take "reasonable steps" to comply.

Australia's eSafety online regulator reported last month that tech giants had already blocked 4.7 million accounts, delivering "significant outcomes."

As of the end of January 2026, Snapchat said it had blocked or disabled 415,000 Snapchat accounts in Australia belonging to under-16s, stating that "we continue to lock more accounts daily."

But the law leaves "significant gaps," Snapchat said, arguing that age estimation technology was only accurate to within two to three years.

"In practice, this means some young people under 16 may be able to bypass protections, potentially leaving them with reduced safeguards, while others over 16 may incorrectly lose access."

Snapchat joins Meta for users' age check regulation:

Snapchat joined billionaire Mark Zuckerberg's Meta in calling on Australia to require app stores to check users' ages before allowing downloads.

The platform said it did not believe an outright ban was the right approach.

"In the case of Snapchat—which is primarily a messaging app used by young people to stay connected with close friends and family—we do not believe that cutting teens off from these relationships makes them safer, happier, or otherwise better off," it said.

Snapchat said it understood Australia's objectives and wanted to protect people online but did not agree its platform should be covered by the social media ban.

The social messaging platform now used for marketing suggests, "Creating a centralized verification system at the app-store level would allow for more consistent protection and higher barriers to circumventing the law," Snapchat said.