Australia’s teen social media ban blocks millions as France weighs its own ban

Social media apps, including Snapchat, on a phone. Snapchat says it has blocked or removed the accounts over 400,000 users who did not meet the age requirement of the country's social media ban for under 16s. © Hollie Adams/Reuters

As France prepares to vote on banning teens from social media, Australia’s ban, which came into effect in December, is already having an impact, with platforms blocking nearly five !million accounts in December alone. Snapchat, which said it blocked over 400,000 accounts warns that some users may be bypassing the age verification technology.

Australia's Social Media Minimum Age law, banning under 16-year-olds from social media, came into effect on 10 December, forcing platforms to take “reasonable steps” to keep them off, or face up to €29 million (Aus$49.5 million).