Snapchat to require age proof as under-16 ban begins

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates.

Snapchat will start warning users this week that their accounts will be deactivated when Australia’s under-16 social media ban begins on 10 December.

The platform will send alerts in-app, by email, or via SMS to users it believes may be younger than 16. Snapchat will rely on a mix of signals — including account behaviour and self-declared ages — to identify affected accounts.

The company told a Senate inquiry it estimates around 440,000 Australian users are between 13 and 15.

Anyone flagged as under 16 but actually older will need to verify their age to stay on the platform. Verification options include:

• Bank-linked ConnectID

• Government ID such as a licence or passport

• Facial age estimation using a selfie analysed by age-assurance company k-ID

Young users will be given a chance to download their chats, videos, and Memories before the ban takes effect. From 10 December, accounts belonging to under-16s will be locked. They can only be reactivated once the user turns 16 and completes age verification.

Accounts left locked for three years without verification will be permanently deleted.

Snapchat has argued it shouldn’t fall under the ban because its main purpose is messaging — which is otherwise exempt — but says it will comply regardless.

“We’re disappointed young Aussies won’t be able to stay connected with their closest friends,” Snapchat said. “But we will disable accounts for users under 16 from December 10.”

Snap is the second platform to announce its rollout plan, following Meta’s warnings to Facebook and Instagram users last week.

TikTok and Kick have confirmed they will follow the new laws but haven’t detailed how.

Reddit, Twitch, X, and YouTube have not yet revealed whether or how they’ll comply.

Source : theguardian

Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka – the leading platform for news for Australians.