Snapchat blocks hundreds of thousands of underage accounts in Australia
Snapchat has suspended more than 415,000 accounts in Australia belonging to users under the age of 16, as a new law bans minors from using social media platforms.
The company said it is continuing daily checks to identify and block more underage accounts. However, Snapchat admitted that age-verification technology is not fully effective, meaning some teenagers may still find ways to bypass restrictions.
Under the new law, platforms including Snapchat, Meta, TikTok and YouTube are required to block accounts of users under 16. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to A$49.5 million (around $34 million).
Australia’s online safety regulator said technology firms have so far shut down a total of 4.7 million underage accounts, calling it a major achievement.
Snapchat has also urged authorities to make age verification mandatory on app stores to prevent minors from accessing the platform more effectively.
