In a major step to meet new regulatory requirements, Snapchat has disabled or locked more than 415,000 accounts belonging to Australian users identified as being under the age of 16. The action follows the country’s recent ban on social media use for minors and was confirmed by the platform in a blog post published on Monday.
The move places Snapchat among the 10 platforms directed to restrict access for users under 16, a rule that came into force in December last year as part of a broader push to improve online safety for minors. In January, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the ban led to the disabling or removal of 4.7 million accounts across these platforms within days of implementation.
Despite these efforts, questions remain around how effectively the rules are being enforced. Reports have suggested that Snapchat’s facial age estimation technology can be easily bypassed by teenagers. Acknowledging these concerns, the company said there are “significant gaps” in how the ban is currently being applied.
Snapchat also flagged “real technical limitations to accurate and dependable age verification,” explaining that its facial age estimation technology is only accurate within 2 or 3 years of a person’s actual age. This margin, the company warned, creates risks on both sides. Some users under 16 may still gain access with fewer protections, while others over 16 could lose access by mistake.
Snapchat further cautioned that limiting access on major social networks could unintentionally push teenagers toward other communication apps that are not covered by the ban and may be less regulated.
On the regulatory front, not all platforms with Australian users are required to comply. The focus has so far remained on the first 10 platforms listed under the ban. Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety commissioner, said attention would be directed to services where most young people are active, adding that smaller companies with around 100,000 users will also be reviewed.
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