Snapchat to tell 440,000 Australians to prove they’re 16 or accounts will be locked in social media ban

Australians younger than 16 will be blocked from social media apps including Snapchat from 10 December 2025. Photograph: Dado Ruvić/Reuters

Snapchat is about to begin alerting some users that their accounts will be deactivated when Australia’s under-16s social media ban takes effect from 10 December.

Users that the platform assesses are likely to be aged under 16 were due to begin getting notifications about the ban this week in-app, via email or SMS.