Snapchat to tell 440,000 Australians to prove they're 16 or accounts will be locked in social media ban

"Snapchat is about to begin alerting some users that their accounts will be deactivated when Australia's under-16s social media ban takes effect from 10 December. Users that the platform assesses are likely to be aged under 16 were due to begin getting notifications about the ban this week in-app, via email or SMS. Snapchat will use behavioural signals based on account activity to estimate ages, in addition to those who have self-declared to be under 16, to build a pool of affected accounts."

"If Snapchat flags a user as under 16, but they are not, they will need to go through age-assurance methods to remain on the platform. Users will be presented with a prompt stating verify your age in the app to begin the process. Age can be verified by ConnectID via an Australian bank account, by checking a government ID such as passport or driver licence, or through facial age estimation."

"Users under 16 will be given the option before 10 December to download data such as chats, memories and videos. Their accounts will be locked from 10 December until the user turns 16 and chooses to reactivate their account by verifying their age. Accounts that are locked for more than three years and not verified will be deleted. Snapchat disagrees that it should be covered by the ban it has argued the primary purpose of Snapchat is for messaging, which is otherwise exempt"

Snapchat will notify accounts it estimates belong to people under 16 that those accounts face deactivation when Australia's under-16s social media ban starts on 10 December. The platform will identify affected users using behavioural signals and self-declared ages, and will send alerts in-app, by email, or SMS. Flagged users can verify age via ConnectID with an Australian bank account, government ID checks, or facial age estimation provided by k-ID. Users under 16 can download chats, memories and videos before the lock. Accounts remain locked until verified at 16 and may be deleted after three years if unverified.

Read at www.theguardian.com