Snapchat Introduces New Age Verification Measures in Australia Ahead of SMMA Deadline
As Australia moves toward enforcing its new Social Media Minimum Age Act (SMMA), Snapchat has announced a sweeping rollout of age-verification measures designed to comply with the law despite strongly disagreeing with the government’s decision to classify it as an Age-Restricted Social Media Platform (ARSMP).
A New Chapter for Young Australian Snapchatters
Moving to set and reshape how under-16s use the platform, their team confirmed that it will implement new verification protocols before the December 10 deadline.
While the company says it is
“deeply saddened that young Aussies can no longer connect with their nearest and dearest via Snapchat,”
It emphasised its commitment to respecting local laws while continuing to advocate for privacy-first solutions, such as age verification at the device, operating system, or app-store level.
Snapchat Notifications Begin: What Young Users Need to Know
Starting this week, Australian Snapchat users who are under 16 will begin receiving notifications via the app, email, and SMS explaining how the new rules may impact their access.
These alerts will guide us through the upcoming mandatory age verification process, outlining the steps they need to take before December 10.
How Snapchat’s Age Verification Will Work
From December 10, any user who they believe is under 16 based either on their self-declared age or Snapchat’s inferred age modelling will need to complete age verification using one of several secure methods provided through third-party partners:
- ConnectID (Bank-verified): A secure age check using an Australian bank account.
- Photo ID Upload: Verification via a government-issued ID (passport, driver’s licence, or state ID) scanned and validated by k-ID.
- Facial Age Estimation: A selfie-based age estimate processed through k-ID’s encrypted system.
Downloading Data Before Access is Restricted
For users who are unable to verify their age, their team is encouraging them to download their data.
Memories, Chats, and Videos stored on the platform can be saved before accounts become inaccessible on December 10.
Users are also advised to cancel any active subscriptions they have within the app.
Snapchat’s Account Locking for Under-16 Users
Under the SMMA requirements, they will begin locking accounts of users under 16 starting December 10.
These accounts may remain closed for up to three years, or until the user turns 16 and chooses to reactivate their account.
Support and Appeals Available on Snapchat
The app has launched additional resources on its Help page for users experiencing issues with age verification.
Or for those who believe their account was incorrectly locked or deactivated.
Snapchat’s Statement on the SMMA
A spokesperson from their media team expressed their concerns for the impact on teens, saying:
“Snapchat is and has always been a visual messaging app, primarily used for connection with your closest friends and family.
“We know that for teens, maintaining friendships is a key contributor to happiness and well-being, and we are deeply saddened that young Aussies can no longer connect with their nearest and dearest via Snapchat.
“However, even though we strongly disagree with the government’s assessment that Snapchat is an age-restricted social Media Platform”
“We will disable accounts for users under 16 from December 10.”
A Turning Point for Social Media Regulation
Their compliance with the SMMA marks a significant shift in how social platforms operate in Australia, signalling a broader change in regulatory expectations globally.
While the company continues to push for privacy-conscious, device-level age verification.
They remain open, they remain committed to adhering to Australian law and supporting users throughout this transition.
For more information, visit: https://newsroom.snap.com/australia-social-media-minimum-age-law
