Australia: Snapchat blocks 415,000 accounts belonging to users under the age of 16

Rome, 2 February (LaPresse) Snapchat has blocked 415,000 accounts in accordance with the ban on social media use by children under 16 that came into force in Australia. Under the law, which came into force on 10 December, platforms such as Snapchat, Meta, TikTok and YouTube must prevent underage users from having accounts. At the same time, the platform has urged Australian authorities to require app stores to verify the age of users as an “additional safeguard”. If they do not take “reasonable steps” to comply with the ban, companies face fines of up to A$49.5 million.