Snapchat Blocks 415K Young Accounts in Australia

Australia is making real progress protecting kids online, with tech companies blocking millions of underage accounts since the country's groundbreaking social media ban launched in December.

Snapchat announced Monday it has disabled 415,000 accounts belonging to users under 16 in Australia. The company says it continues locking more accounts daily as it works to comply with the new law.

The legislation requires platforms like Snapchat, Meta, TikTok and YouTube to prevent children under 16 from holding accounts. Companies that fail to take "reasonable steps" face fines up to $34 million.

Australia's eSafety regulator reported last month that tech giants have already blocked 4.7 million accounts total across all platforms. That's a significant win for child safety advocates who pushed for stronger protections.

The ban became enforceable on December 10, making Australia the first country to implement such sweeping age restrictions on social media. Other nations are watching closely, with France and Britain both considering similar measures.

France's National Assembly approved legislation in late January to ban children under 15 from social media, citing concerns about online bullying and mental health. The bill still needs final approval but shows momentum building globally.

The Ripple Effect

Australia's bold experiment is already influencing policy worldwide. Countries that have debated child safety measures for years now have a working model to study and adapt.

The ban addresses what many parents and educators have worried about for years: kids spending unsupervised hours on platforms designed to maximize engagement. By creating legal requirements for age verification, Australia has shifted responsibility from individual families to the tech companies themselves.

Snapchat noted the law has gaps, saying current age estimation technology is only accurate within two to three years. The company joined Meta in calling for app stores to verify ages before allowing downloads, which could create stronger barriers against workarounds.

While tech companies debate implementation details, the core achievement remains clear. Millions of underage accounts that existed just months ago are now blocked, giving parents and regulators a concrete starting point for protecting young people online.

The coming months will show whether other nations follow Australia's lead in putting child wellbeing ahead of tech company growth.