Snapchat Seizes 415K Under-16 Accounts in Australia Amidst Ban Implementation

Snapchat announced on Monday, February 2, 2026, that it had blocked 415,000 accounts under Australia’s social media ban for under-16s. The platform warned some young people may be bypassing age verification technology despite the crackdown.

The legislation, which came into effect on December 10, 2025, requires platforms including Snapchat, Meta, TikTok, and YouTube to stop underage users from holding accounts. Companies face fines of Aus$49.5 million (US$34 million) if they fail to take “reasonable steps” to comply.

As of January 2026’s end, the social media giant had blocked or disabled 415,000 Snapchat accounts in Australia belonging to under-16s. However, Snapchat noted that age estimation technology was only accurate to within two to three years, meaning some young people under 16 may be able to bypass protections.

The company urged Australian authorities to require app stores to check users’ ages as an “additional safeguard.” Snapchat joined billionaire Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta in calling for such a requirement. The social media platform said it did not believe an outright ban was the right approach, arguing that cutting teens off from relationships may not make them safer or happier.

“Creating a centralized verification system at the app-store level would allow for more consistent protection and higher barriers to circumventing the law,” Snapchat stated.