eSAFETY GUIDE
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Snapchat

16+
Minimum age for Australians from 10 December 2025
16+ Minimum age for Australians from 10 December 2025

What is Snapchat?

Snapchat is a messaging app that lets you send images, videos or instant text messages to friends. These images, videos and messages are only available for a short period of time once they are opened. You can also use filters on your images and upload photo and video stories that last for 24 hours before they disappear. Businesses and organisations can create their own channels. Content posted to Snapchat is not as temporary as it may appear – even though Snapchat tells you when someone takes a screenshot, there are ways to save chats or photos without the sender knowing. Adult and other sensitive content may also be accessed in the app.

In the Stories tab, users can share stories with their friends, as well as view their friends’ stories. While Snapchat’s community guidelines prohibit sexual content, it is still possible for users to access content and messages that may not be age appropriate through Stories. 

Users can view curated and moderated content in the two public areas of Snapchat: Discover (within the Stories tab) and Spotlight. 

Users can share their location on the Snap Map, as well as see the location of any of their friends who also share their location. Location sharing is turned off by default, and users can hide their location (see Disable Snap Map Feature).

Snapchat also has a feature called ‘Find Friends’ that shows a list of suggested people you might want to add as a friend. The list is based on things like your age, location, phone contacts, as well as your existing friends and existing followers on Snapchat. It’s meant to help you find people you know in real life, but it can also show you to people you don’t know. This means the feature could be misused by predators. You can turn off the ability to show up in Find Friends in the settings of the Snapchat app.

My AI is a chatbot available in the app, powered by Open AI’s ChatGPT technology, which can be used to answer questions, make suggestions and send feedback. Snapchat recommends that you should always independently check answers provided by My AI and not share confidential or sensitive information. It is also important to be aware that AI chatbots may say things that are inaccurate or harmful. For more information about the risks of AI chatbots and companions for children and young people, see our online safety advisory.

Snapchat has an in-app tool called Family Centre, which provides parents and carers with insight into who their teens (13 to 17) are interacting with and sharing their location with on Snapchat. Parents cannot access the content of their children's interactions, but they can report any accounts of concern. In Family Centre, parents and carers can send requests asking their teen to share their live location and set up travel notifications to see when family members arrive at designated locations. They can also restrict their teen's access to My AI. Parents can also turn off ‘showing up in find friends’, so that only people known to them can add their child in the app.

Website: snapchat.com

Apps: Android app, Apple iOS

How do people use Snapchat?

Learn more about the benefits and risks associated with how people use image sharing and chat services like Snapchat.

Snapchat is used for: location sharing, messaging/online chat, online relationships, photo/video sharing, screen capture, voice chat and video calling.

Social media age restrictions for under-16s

Snap announced that from 10 December 2025, Australians under 16 will no longer have access to their Snapchat accounts or be able to create a new account. This change is in response to the Australian Government's social media age restrictions.

Users under 16 whose accounts are locked will have three years to download their data from the time their account is locked. These users are encouraged to cancel any subscriptions to Snapchat+ or Memories+. They can expect to receive this messaging from Snap through in-app messages as well as via SMS and push notifications.

After an account is locked, it will be preserved in a locked state for three years. After that, it will become deactivated. However, users who turn 16 any time during the three year period can use an age assurance process to confirm their age through ConnectID (bank-verified), or through photo ID or facial age estimation options provided by third-party service provider k-ID.

This link is provided by Snap:

How can you report online abuse, ask for content to be removed or block someone?

These links are provided by Snapchat:

How can you protect your personal information?

These links are provided by Snapchat:

Key safety links

These links are provided by Snapchat:

  • Tips for staying safe
    Provides a range of information for staying safe on Snapchat.
  • Family Centre
    Learn how parents and carers can report accounts of concern their teens are interacting with and share their live location on Snapchat.
  • Parent’s guide
    Provides a range of safety information for parents and carers, including the Family Center parental controls.
  • Safety centre
    Offers a range of general help, safety and security information.
  • Safety snapshots
    Snapchat's official Discover channel for safety and privacy tips.
  • My AI on Snapchat
    Provides information on Snapchat’s chatbot and how to delete data that is stored.
  • Community guidelines
    The basic rules for using Snapchat.
  • Terms of service
    The terms you agree to when you use Snapchat.
  • Privacy policy
    Outlines Snapchat's privacy policy including the information they collect and how they use your data.

Related eSafety links

Find out more about the social media age restrictions and access our social media 'ban' or delay FAQ for the facts.

You can also explore other resources to help keep you safe online: 

 

Social media changes are coming

From 10 December 2025, certain social media platforms won’t be allowed to let Australian children under 16 create or keep an account.

Find out more at eSafety’s social media age restrictions hub.

About The eSafety Guide

The eSafety Guide helps you find out how to protect your personal information and report harmful content on common social media, games, apps and sites. Entries are for information only and are not reviews or endorsements by eSafety. Before choosing to use any online service or platform it’s best to:

  • do your own research to understand the risks and benefits
  • check the age rating and requirements
  • consider privacy
  • check the permissions and other settings
  • check the in-app reporting options.

If you are a parent or carer who is deciding whether a child should be allowed to use an online service or platform, you can also:

  • consider your child's readiness for the types of content and experiences they might encounter
  • help them understand what to do if they need help
  • provide ongoing support and monitoring, for example through regular check-ins with your child
  • agree to some rules about use of each service or platform.

To find out more, you can read the App checklist for parents, as well as information about parental controls in social media, games and apps and mental wellbeing resources for families.