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Snapchat announced Monday that it has disabled 415,000 accounts in Australia to comply with the nation’s landmark social media ban for children under 16.
The law, which took effect on December 10, mandates that platforms like TikTok, Meta, and YouTube take “reasonable steps” to bar underage users or face fines of up to US$34 million.
Despite the mass removals, Snapchat warned that current age-estimation technology is often inaccurate by up to three years, allowing some children to bypass barriers while accidentally locking out adults.
The company argued that the ban creates “significant gaps” in digital safety and urged the Australian government to shift age-verification responsibilities to centralised app stores.
Snapchat also voiced opposition to being included in the ban, characterising itself as a “messaging app” rather than a traditional social network.
The company stated that severing digital ties between teens and their families does not necessarily make them safer, even as it continues to lock thousands of accounts daily to meet the government’s stringent requirements.
