Snapchat begins bank-linked age checks ahead of Australian social media ban for teens

Snapchat has recently begun introducing bank-verified age checks for users in Australia as the country prepares to enforce social media age laws. From December 10, 2025, Australians under the age of 16 will be locked out of platforms the government classifies as social media under the new Social Media Minimum Age Act.

The law places Snapchat in the category of age-restricted social platforms, a designation the company disputes. Snapchat maintains that it is primarily a visual messaging app used to communicate with close friends and family, rather than a traditional social media network. However, the company says it will comply with the legislation while continuing to argue for what it calls more "privacy-conscious" approaches, such as age verification at the device or operating system level.

Under the new requirements, users who may be under 16 will now be prompted to verify their age upon opening the app. Snapchat is offering several verification methods, including a bank-linked process through ConnectID, government photo ID checks, and facial age estimation administered by the third-party provider k-ID. According to the company, it will only receive a yes-or-no confirmation of whether a user meets the minimum age threshold and will not access bank details, facial scans or identity documents.

Once the law comes into effect, existing accounts belonging to users under 16 will be locked. Those affected will have three years to download their data before the account is permanently deactivated. If a user turns 16 during that period, they can verify their age to restore access. Snapchat is also advising Australian users to cancel subscriptions such as Snapchat+ and Memories+ if their accounts fall under the new restrictions.