Snapchat to shut down accounts of under-16s as part of new age verification laws

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Starting Monday, Snapchat has been sending notifications to users in Australia who may be under the age of 16. This is happening under the country's new law, which will prevent children under 16 from using social media platforms.

This Australian rule, which comes into effect on December 10, 2025, will ban children under the age of 16 from using social media. In response to this decision, Snapchat has begun age verification for its users in the country. Snapchat is asking users it deems to be under 16 to complete this verification. The platform has reported that approximately 440,000 users in Australia are between the ages of 13 and 15—and they will now have to prove their age.

The app offers two ways to prove age. The first is Connect ID. It's directly linked to the bank, which only tells whether the user is 16+ or not. It doesn't provide information about any private bank. The second is K ID. In this, the user can upload their ID or use the feature of estimating age from a selfie. If Snapchat detects that a child is under 16, their account will be locked. Their account will be reopened only when they turn 16 and prove their age.

Interestingly, Snapchat, which calls itself a visual messaging app, not a "social media" platform, disagrees with this rule. However, the company has stated that it will comply with Australian law. According to the Australian government, this law aims to protect children from online threats, cyberbullying, and harmful content. Other platforms like TikTok and Instagram will also have to follow these rules.