Snapchat has blocked 415,000 accounts of under-16s in Australia but warns age verification tech has gaps, urging app store checks.
SYDNEY: Snapchat has blocked 415,000 accounts belonging to users under 16 in Australia.
The company warned that some young people may still be bypassing age verification technology.
The platform urged Australian authorities to require app stores to verify user ages as an “additional safeguard”.
This call was echoed by Meta, as part of the world-first social media ban for under-16s.
The legislation, which came into effect on December 10, requires platforms to stop underage users from holding accounts.
Companies face fines of Aus$49.5 million if they fail to take reasonable steps to comply.
Australia’s eSafety regulator reported last month that tech giants had already blocked 4.7 million accounts.
Snapchat stated it continues to lock more accounts daily.
However, Snapchat argued the law leaves “significant gaps”.
It said age estimation technology was only accurate to within two to three years.
“In practice, this means some young people under 16 may be able to bypass protections, potentially leaving them with reduced safeguards, while others over 16 may incorrectly lose access,” the company said.
Snapchat called for a centralised verification system at the app-store level.
It argued this would create higher barriers to circumventing the law.
The platform stated it understood Australia’s objectives to protect people online.
It did not agree that its messaging-focused service should be covered by the ban.
“In the case of Snapchat — which is primarily a messaging app used by young people to stay connected with close friends and family — we do not believe that cutting teens off from these relationships makes them safer,” it said.
