- Can you bypass Snapchat age verification in Australia?
- Best VPNs to get around Snapchat age restriction in Australia
- How to bypass Snapchat age restrictions in Australia: step-by-step guide
- How Snapchat age verification works in Australia
- How to verify your age on Snapchat
- What you need to know about Australia’s social media ban
- Is it legal to use a VPN to bypass Snapchat age restrictions in Australia?
- Key takeaways
- FAQ
The Australian government has classified Snapchat as an age-restricted social media platform. As of December 10, age verification has officially begun, and Snapchat is now required to block users under 16 from holding an account. All Australian users who are 16 or younger are now being prompted to verify their age before they can continue using the platform. However, you can still bypass the Snapchat age gate by using a VPN to appear as if you’re located in a country without these requirements. By connecting to a server in the US, UK, Canada, France, or Spain, you won’t be asked to verify your age while using Snapchat from Australia.
To comply with the new Social Media Minimum Age Act (SMMA), Snapchat has rolled out mandatory age checks for anyone flagged as potentially under 16. Since the rules took effect today, accounts belonging to younger users must now verify their age to remain active. Verification involves submitting bank credentials, uploading government-issued ID, or completing a facial age-estimation scan using a video selfie and AI technology. If verification isn’t completed, the account may be restricted or locked.
If you don’t want to provide your sensitive personal information or simply don’t have an ID, you can easily bypass Snapchat age restrictions in Australia by using a VPN. Based on my tests and research, Proton VPN is the best VPN to get around the Snapchat age gate. Proton VPN’s 16,300+ worldwide servers make it simple to find a connection outside Australia that’s backed by strong anti-tracking features that ensure your location remains hidden.
A solid cybersecurity and privacy package with a whopping 70% off
Can you bypass Snapchat age verification in Australia?
Yes, you can get around Snapchat age verification in Australia by using a VPN to change your digital location. When you change your IP address with a VPN server, Snapchat will think you’re accessing the platform from a country that lacks these requirements, and you’ll be able to use your account without restrictions.
Australia’s new Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 means that all major social media platforms, including Snapchat, have to verify a user’s age. The minimum age to use platforms like Snapchat, Reddit, TikTok, and YouTube in Australia has been set at 16, and the eSafety Commissioner has been given the power to add new platforms to this list at any time.
If you don’t verify your account by December 10, 2025, and you’re suspected of being under 16 years of age, you’ll lose access to Snapchat. The only way to use Snapchat is to verify your age or use a VPN to bypass the requirements. Bear in mind that continuing to use Snapchat with a VPN won’t cause you any legal problems. The responsibility is on the platform to comply with the law; otherwise, they could face fines of up to AU$49.5 million.
Best VPNs to get around Snapchat age restriction in Australia
Following extensive tests with more than 20 VPNs, Proton VPN, TotalVPN, and IPVanish proved the best VPNs to bypass the Snapchat age restriction in Australia. This is thanks to broad server availability, powerful unblocking capabilities, and security features that keep your true location hidden.
| VPN for Snapchat in Australia | VPN Rating | Bypass Snapchat age check? | Servers | Speed | Price | Supported devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Proton VPN | 8.9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Yes | 20300 servers in 148 countries | 770 Mbps average | $ 2.99/month | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, Fire TV, routers |
| 2. TotalVPN | 7.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Yes | 1800 servers in 90+ countries | 713 Mbps average | $ 1.59/month | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV |
| 3. IPVanish | 8.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Yes | 3200 servers in 113 countries | 705 Mbps average | $ 2.19/month | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV, routers |
My tests revealed that Proton VPN is best for bypassing Snapchat age checks in Australia due to 20300 worldwide servers that include restriction-free Snapchat locations like the UK, Canada, France, and Germany. It also offers robust encryption, leak protection, and multi-hop servers to ensure your true location stays hidden. Meanwhile, TotalVPN is an affordable VPN choice to unblock Snapchat in Australia without an ID. It has a respectable 1800 worldwide servers and basic but powerful security protections, with prices starting from $ 2.19/month. IPVanish is another reliable choice that balances some advanced security features like obfuscation with a good spread of servers, powerful unblocking, and affordable prices for unlimited devices.
How to bypass Snapchat age restrictions in Australia: step-by-step guide
By using a VPN for Snapchat, you can change your IP address to a country where Snapchat age checks don’t require ID. In doing this, you can bypass age confirmation in Australia and keep using Snapchat regardless of your age. This also means you get to protect your privacy and avoid sharing sensitive information that could fall into the hands of hackers in a data breach.
Step 1. Select a reliable VPN that works with Snapchat
First, choose a VPN that provides fast and secure servers in countries where Snapchat doesn’t enforce strict age verification. Based on my own tests and research, Proton VPN performs best in this area, as it offers a vast worldwide server network that provides high-speed servers in countries where Snapchat isn’t age-restricted.
Proton VPN is the best VPN to bypass Snapchat age checks in Australia, with 20300 servers globally. This includes countries without stringent Snapchat age restrictions, such as the UK, France, Canada, and Germany. Powerful encryption, leak protection, and multi-hop connections in privacy-friendly Switzerland ensure your anonymity and privacy.
Step 2. Download and install the VPN app on your device
Next, download and install the native VPN app on the device you use for Snapchat. Most VPNs offer apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS, but the best Snapchat VPNs also offer browser extensions and smart device compatibility. Once you’ve downloaded the app, follow the on-screen instructions to install the VPN on your device.
Step 3. Clear your Snapchat app cache
Before connecting, clear your Snapchat app cache. The app stores temporary data that includes location identifiers, so this helps avoid any conflict with your VPN. Open Snapchat, tap on your profile icon, then Settings, Account Actions, and finally, tap on Clear Cache.
Step 4. Connect to a server outside Australia
Now, connect to a VPN server outside of Australia, specifically in a country that lacks strict Snapchat age checks. This includes locations like the UK, US, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. I recommend choosing a country that is geographically close to Australia to get the best speeds.
Step 5. Access Snapchat without an age check popping up
Finally, close and reopen Snapchat to ensure that your VPN location is picked up by the app. Now, you should be able to access Snapchat without providing proof of age. If you’re still blocked or encounter an age check prompt, disconnect from your VPN server and try a different one. Some apps and sites use VPN-detection software that can block suspected VPN connections, so trying new servers can help.
How Snapchat age verification works in Australia
Snapchat requires users suspected of being under 16 to verify their age using an open banking connection, an official photo ID, or facial age estimation via AI software. The platform also relies on your self-attested birthdate and an AI algorithm that uses age modelling to determine whether you need to verify your age. This age modelling algorithm relies on a number of criteria:
- Behavioral signals: Snapchat’s AI algorithm looks at the way you interact with the platform, such as what content you post, the kinds of posts you engage with, and your friend connections.
- Pattern recognition: Machine learning is part of the model and compares your activity to the kind of patterns expected from a young teenager and how that compares to a user in their mid-twenties.
- Flagging accounts: If the implied age resulting from behavioural signals is different from your self-declared age or it rates you as under 16, your account is then flagged for mandatory age verification.
- Targeted verification prompts: As part of Snapchat’s age gate, the platform can send in-app notifications, text messages, or emails if it thinks you’re under 16, recommending that you follow the steps to verify your account.
If your account is flagged for verification and you do not verify your age by December 10, 2025, then your account will be locked.
What happens to your Snapchat account if you’re under 16?
In Australia, from December 10, 2025, any account belonging to a person under the age of 16 will be locked. This is to comply with the new Social Media Minimum Age Act (SMMA). As soon as the deadline hits, your account will no longer be accessible, so you won’t be able to send messages or snaps, view stored content, or interact with friends. The account will remain this way for up to 3 years, and provided that you turn 16 within that period, you’ll be able to verify your age and reactivate your account and data.
However, if the account remains locked and you haven’t verified your age after 3 years, your account will be permanently deactivated and deleted, along with all of your stored data and snaps. This is why Snapchat recommends users under 16 to download their data and cancel any paid subscriptions like Snapchat+ before December 10.
To avoid the risk of losing access to your account and data, I recommend getting a reliable VPN like Proton VPN and using it to bypass Australia’s new Snapchat restrictions. Connect to an unrestricted country like the US, UK, or Canada, and continue using Snapchat without risk of account termination.
I’m over 16 but Snapchat says I’m under – how to verify your age
If you’re over 16 and Snapchat has mistakenly flagged your account as underage, you have to use an approved verification method to confirm your true age. You should see a prompt within the app, at which point you can choose one of the following official methods to prove that you’re over 16:
- ConnectID: This open banking option is available from common Australian banks (e.g., CommBank, ANZ Plus, NAB, Westpac) and links to your bank account to confirm your age without the need to share sensitive personal documentation.
- Photographic ID: You can use a government-approved ID, such as your driver’s license or passport, to prove your age.
- Facial age estimation: This uses a selfie that’s analyzed by a third-party (k-ID) to estimate your age, but it can fail if you have atypical features or look younger than you actually are.
How to verify your age on Snapchat
- Open Snapchat and look for an age verification prompt.
- Choose a verification method and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Submit your ConnectID, photo ID, or video selfie evidence to prove your age.
- Wait for Snapchat to verify your age, which usually takes a few seconds.
- Continue using Snapchat without any further restrictions.
What you need to know about Australia’s social media ban
| Legislation: | Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 |
| Effective date: | December 10, 2025 |
| Minimum age: | 16 years old to hold an account |
| Affected platforms: | Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter (X), YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, and more (eSafety Commissioner can extend this list) |
| Platforms excluded: | Messaging and email services, online gaming platforms, education resources, and health services |
| Penalties for platforms: | Up to A$49.5 million in fines for social media platforms that do not take reasonable steps to comply |
| Penalties for users: | No legal or financial penalties for under-16s who attempt to continue accessing these platforms |
| Verification methods: | Platforms must offer alternatives to photographic ID, such as open banking (ConnectID) and facial age estimation |
| Account locking: | Accounts suspected of belonging to under-16s will be locked for 3 years or until the user can prove their age |
From December 10, 2025, Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 is enforceable and requires social media platforms to verify users’ ages and ensure under-16s do not access the platform. This move is an effort to protect children online, combating issues like cyberbullying, online predators, and access to potentially harmful adult content. It also resulted from the invasive use of algorithms designed to maximize children’s use of screen time.
The deadline of December 10, 2025, is a significant moment in online safety regulation for Australia, as platforms that do not comply can be fined up to A$49.5 million. Similar legislation designed to restrict access to porn sites has been introduced throughout 2025 in many countries, and regulators have already levied fines for noncompliance. Australia’s new online safety legislation is also being monitored closely by other countries as governments around the world face similar challenges to keep minors safe online.
Is it legal to use a VPN to bypass Snapchat age restrictions in Australia?
Yes, using a VPN to access Snapchat is legal under Australian law. There are no laws prohibiting VPN usage, nor are there any provisions in the new law to prevent under-16s from using a VPN to bypass age checks. That said, individual platforms like Snapchat, Twitter (X), or Instagram may have stipulations in their terms of service that forbid software from changing your location. This depends on the approach that each platform takes as the deadline approaches.
Since platforms have a legal duty to use “reasonable steps” to prevent access for under-16s, they may restrict your account or close it until you verify your age. So, if you use a VPN to bypass Australia’s Snapchat age restrictions, be sure to choose a VPN like Proton VPN that can effectively hide your true location and disguise your VPN traffic.
Key takeaways
The Australian government now requires all major social media platforms to take “reasonable steps” to restrict access to users under 16. As of December 10, age verification has officially begun under the Social Media Minimum Age Act, and platforms like Snapchat must lock or restrict any account belonging to – or suspected of belonging to – an under-16 user. These accounts will remain inaccessible until the user proves their age with approved verification methods.
Rather than risk your privacy, you can get around Snapchat restrictions in Australia using a VPN. Even if you’re under 16, you can take this approach without any legal or financial risk, as the responsibility is on platforms to enforce and comply with the law. I recommend using Proton VPN, which has 20300 worldwide servers to change your IP address and bypass the Snapchat age requirements in Australia.
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FAQ
Snapchat requires age verification in Australia as a result of the new Social Media Minimum Age law that requires you to be 16 or older to access the platform. Platforms that don’t comply can face significant fines, so Snapchat is now requiring you to complete age verification through open banking, photographic ID, or age estimation software. I recommend that you use Proton VPN to bypass Snapchat age requirements instead, as there’s no personal or legal risk to users under 16 for doing so.
Snapchat doesn’t have an adult content filter like YouTube, Reddit, or TikTok, but under-16 accounts will be blocked in Australia from December 10, 2025, due to new legislation. If your account is blocked due to this change in the law, use a reliable VPN like Proton VPN to bypass age restrictions and continue accessing Snapchat.
Verify your age on Snapchat by opening the app and looking for the age prompt, choosing a verification method like photo ID or open banking, and following the on-screen prompts. Alternatively, you can bypass Snapchat age verification by using a VPN to change your IP address to a country without age restrictions. For example, I successfully used Proton VPN to connect to the UK, US, and Canada without ever being asked to verify my age.
Snapchat uses behavioral analysis, machine learning, and pattern recognition that looks at your account history and birthdate to estimate your age, and this could incorrectly flag you as under 16. If this has happened to you, you’ll be expected to verify your age via ConnectID, photographic ID, or AI age estimation software using a selfie.
Yes, Snapchat doesn’t have strict age restrictions like Australia in many countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, New Zealand, and more. Use a VPN to change your IP address to one of these countries, and you’ll be able to bypass Snapchat age verification in Australia. I recommend choosing Proton VPN based on my in-house tests.
