Snap Inc. will begin offering Australian users a new bank-linked age verification tool as the company prepares to comply with Australia’s upcoming social media ban for children under 16, set to take effect next month.
The U.S.-based firm, which operates Snapchat, announced that from this week it will prompt users to confirm they are at least 16 years old using ConnectID — a verification tool owned by Australia’s major banks. By clicking through ConnectID, users can receive a simple yes/no confirmation of their age based on existing bank account data, without uploading personal documents.
Australia approved the world’s first nationwide ban on social media access for under-16s last year, marking one of the strictest tech regulations globally. With an estimated 440,000 Snapchat users aged 13 to 15, Snap is expected to be the platform most affected by the new rules.
Snap will also offer alternative verification methods through k-ID, a Singapore-based age-assurance provider that determines a user’s age via selfie analysis or government ID uploads.
The use of bank-linked data marks the first time a financial footprint has been integrated into enforcing the landmark age restriction. ConnectID managing director Andrew Black said the system aims to “protect young people online without creating new privacy risks.”
Snap noted it disagreed with the Australian government’s decision to classify Snapchat as a social media platform rather than a messaging service. However, the company said it would comply with all local laws.
Social media companies had pushed back against the ban, which carries penalties of up to A$49.5 million ($31.9 million) for violations. But with the December 10 deadline approaching, most major platforms are adapting. Meta — parent company of Facebook, Instagram and Threads — confirmed last week it has begun deactivating underage accounts.