Snapchat says it has blocked more than 415,000 underage users in Australia as part of its compliance with the country’s new Social Media Minimum Age law, which restricts access to certain platforms for users under 16.
The company began enforcing age-based restrictions soon after the law came into effect and says it continues to lock accounts daily using a mix of declared ages and age-detection technology. While Snapchat says it supports the goal of improving online safety for young people, it has raised concerns about how the law is being implemented.
According to Snapchat, current age verification tools are not fully reliable and can be inaccurate by several years. This creates a risk that some users under 16 may still gain access, while others who are legally allowed could be mistakenly blocked.
The company also warns that limiting access to a few major platforms could push teenagers toward lesser-known apps that may lack strong safety protections.
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