Snapchat & Social Media: New Restrictions for Teens Under 16

Australia’s new social media minimum age law, officially the ‘Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act’, is now in effect, impacting access to major platforms for younger users. As of January 22, 2026, under-16s are banned from using platforms including TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit and Twitch.

Snapchat’s Response and Implementation

Snapchat, while disagreeing with the Australian government’s classification of its platform as a social media service – maintaining it is primarily a visual messaging app for connecting with close friends and family – has announced it will comply with the new legislation. The company emphasizes its belief that disconnecting teens from their friends and family may not necessarily make them safer, potentially driving them to less secure messaging applications. Snapchat continues to advocate for age verification solutions at the device, operating system, or app store level.

Beginning December 10, 2025, Snapchat began locking the accounts of users in Australia under the age of 16. Users affected were encouraged to download their data as soon as possible, with a three-year window to do so after account locking. Snapchat also advised users to cancel any subscriptions to Snapchat+ or Memories+.

Locked accounts will be preserved in that state for three years before becoming deactivated. This process reflects Snapchat’s commitment to adhering to local laws while expressing concerns about the broader implications of the ban.

Broader Context: Teen Social Media Use and Regulation

The Australian law is part of a growing global trend towards regulating social media access for young people, driven by increasing concerns about the impact of these platforms on mental health. A survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2021 found that 57% of high school girls and 29% of high school boys reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless. The same survey indicated that 22% of all high school students, and nearly a third of high school girls, had seriously considered attempting suicide.

Research consistently links increased social media use with a higher risk of depression in children and teens. Conversely, studies have shown that reducing or eliminating social media exposure for over a month can benefit youth mental health. Meta’s own internal study reportedly found that 32% of teen girls stated Instagram made them feel worse about their bodies, and concluded that teens blame Instagram for increases in anxiety and depression.

Snapchat’s Existing Safeguards for Teens

Even before the Australian legislation, Snapchat had implemented several safeguards for teen users (ages 13-17). These protections are enabled by default and cannot be turned off. Teen accounts are private by default, meaning friend lists are private and communication is limited to mutually accepted friends or contacts saved in the user’s phone. Snapchatters can only tag each other in Snaps, Stories, or Spotlight videos if they are already friends or followers of those with Public Profiles.

Public Profiles, which allow users to share content more widely, are off by default and only available to older teens (ages 16-17). Even with access to Public Profiles, users decide whether each piece of content is public or private when posting. Younger teens (ages 13-15) do not have access to Public Profiles at all.

US Regulatory Landscape

The trend towards greater regulation of teen social media use isn’t limited to Australia. In the United States, the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA) aims to prohibit social media platforms from allowing children under the age of 13 to create or maintain accounts, aligning with the age minimum already practiced by most platforms. As of February 4, 2026, twelve states have enacted or are considering legislation related to teen social media regulation, including measures requiring mandatory age verification, parental consent for users under 16 or 18, and default private account settings.

Despite existing age minimums of 13, nearly 40% of children aged 8-12 are reportedly still using social media platforms. This highlights the challenges in enforcing age restrictions and the ongoing debate about the appropriate level of regulation for these platforms.

Implications and Future Outlook

The Australian law and similar initiatives globally represent a significant shift in how governments are approaching the relationship between young people and social media. While the intent is to protect vulnerable users, the implementation raises questions about the effectiveness of age verification, the potential for driving users to less regulated platforms, and the impact on social connections. Snapchat’s response underscores the complexities faced by companies navigating these evolving regulations, balancing compliance with concerns about user privacy and safety.