SYDNEY: Snapchat said on Monday it has blocked or disabled more than 415,000 accounts in Australia belonging to users under the age of 16, as the country enforces its landmark social media restrictions — but warned that some teenagers may still be bypassing age verification systems.
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The platform urged Australian authorities to require app stores to verify users’ ages as an added safeguard under the world-first legislation, which came into force on December 10.
Under the new rules, major platforms including Snapchat, Meta, TikTok and YouTube must prevent under-16s from holding accounts. Companies that fail to take “reasonable steps” to comply face fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (US$34 million).
Australia’s eSafety regulator said last month that technology companies had already blocked around 4.7 million accounts nationwide, calling the results “significant”.
Snapchat said that as of the end of January, it had blocked or disabled 415,000 accounts linked to underage users in Australia and continues to remove more daily.
However, the company cautioned that existing age estimation technology is typically accurate only within a two- to three-year range.
“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 said in a statement.
Echoing calls from Meta, Snapchat urged the government to require app stores to confirm users’ ages before allowing downloads.
“Creating a centralised verification system at the app-store level would allow for more consistent protection and higher barriers to circumventing the law,” the company said.
Snapchat also reiterated that it does not support an outright ban on teenagers using its platform. While acknowledging Australia’s goal of improving online safety, the company argued that Snapchat — primarily a messaging service — should not be treated the same as traditional social media platforms.
“In the case of Snapchat, which is mainly 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 better off,” the company said.
