Snapchat enforces age verification in Australia under new law: What users need to know

Snapchat has announced that it will begin enforcing mandatory age verification in Australia as the country’s new Social Media Minimum Age Act comes into effect. The law restricts the use of platforms classified as social media to users aged 16 and above. Although Snap maintains that its service is primarily a visual messaging tool rather than a traditional social media platform, the company says it will comply with the regulation and begin rolling out prompts that require users to confirm their age.

Why Snapchat is enforcing verification

The Australian government has classified Snapchat as an “Age-Restricted Social Media Platform,” a decision Snap publicly disagrees with. The company argues that disconnecting teenagers from their friends and family could push them toward less safe communication tools. Despite this stance, Snap says it will comply with the law in the same way it follows local regulations in all countries where it operates.
From December 10, 2025, all users in Australia who are under 16 will have their Snapchat accounts locked. The move is part of the enforcement framework designed to restrict minors from accessing apps the government considers unsuitable without verified age checks.

What happens to accounts of users under 16

Users who are below the required age will no longer be able to create or maintain Snapchat accounts. Those who already have an account are encouraged to download their data as soon as possible. Snap says locked accounts will be preserved in their inactive state for up to three years. During this period, users who turn 16 can verify their age and restore access. After three years, any account that remains unverified will be permanently deactivated.

Snap also advises affected users to cancel subscriptions to Snapchat+ or Memories+ before their accounts are locked to avoid unwanted charges.

How age verification will work

Beginning this week, many Australian users will start receiving in-app prompts asking them to verify their age. Snapchat is supporting multiple verification methods, including:

Bank-linked verification (ConnectID), where users authenticate through their Australian bank.
Photo ID scanning, handled by third-party provider k-ID, which checks documents such as passports, driver licences or state-issued IDs.
Facial age estimation, which allows users to take a selfie that is analysed to confirm whether they meet the minimum age threshold.
Snap emphasises that it only receives a “yes” or “no” result from these checks and does not collect biometric data, bank details or personal identification documents.

Support for affected users

Snap is directing users who encounter verification difficulties or believe their account was locked in error to its Help Centre. The company has also linked mental health and youth support resources for those distressed by the upcoming changes. While Snap says it looks forward to welcoming users back once they turn 16, the rollout marks one of the strictest age-gating steps implemented by the company to date.