GLOBAL - Snap Inc. is notifying approximately 440,000 Australian users believed to be between 13 and 15 years old that their accounts will be locked starting Monday, 10 December 2025, EAT, to comply with a new federal law. The move is a direct consequence of Australia's Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, which prohibits social media access for individuals under the age of 16. This development in Australia occurs as Kenya formalises its own robust framework for child online protection, highlighting a growing international consensus on the need for stricter age assurance on digital platforms.

Under the Australian law, passed on 28 November 2024, social media companies face fines of up to AUD $49.5 million (approximately KES 4.2 billion) if they fail to take “reasonable steps” to prevent underage use. The responsibility for enforcement lies entirely with the tech companies, with no penalties for minors or their families. The list of restricted platforms includes major services like Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Reddit.

Snapchat has outlined a multi-faceted approach to identify and verify users. The company will use a combination of self-declared birth dates and behavioural signals from account activity to flag potential underage users. Those flagged will receive in-app, email, or SMS notifications prompting them to verify their age to avoid account suspension. Users who believe they have been incorrectly identified will have several appeal options, including using a bank-linked service called ConnectID, submitting government-issued photo ID (like a passport or driver's license), or using a facial age estimation tool provided by a third-party service. Snap has stated it will only receive a “yes/no” confirmation of age and not the underlying personal data.

Kenya's Parallel Path to Online Safety

The regulatory shift in Australia mirrors significant policy advancements in Kenya. In April 2025, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) released the "Industry Guidelines for Child Online Protection and Safety." These comprehensive and binding guidelines mandate that all ICT licensees, service providers, and content developers implement stringent safety measures, including age-verification protocols, to protect children under 18 from online harms like cyberbullying, grooming, and exposure to inappropriate content. The CA has provided a six-month window for existing licensees to comply.

Further cementing this approach, the proposed Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Aldai MP Marianne Kitany, seeks to legally require users to verify their age with a national ID card before accessing social media platforms. Proponents argue this is necessary because self-declaration of age is easily bypassed. If passed, the bill would compel service providers to integrate robust age verification, aligning with the CA's new guidelines and placing Kenya among the nations taking decisive legislative action on the issue.

A Global Trend with Local Implications

The actions in Australia and Kenya are part of a broader global trend. Lawmakers in the European Union, the UK, and various US states are also implementing or debating laws that mandate age assurance online to protect minors. This global momentum is driven by growing concerns over the impact of social media on youth mental health and safety.

For Kenya, where youth constitute a significant portion of the population and social media usage is high, these developments are particularly relevant. A 2019 study by USIU-Africa noted that most Kenyans aged 21-35 spend about three hours daily on social media, with platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook being dominant. More recent data from May 2025 suggests Kenyans lead the world in daily social media usage, averaging over four hours. While these platforms are vital for social connection, entrepreneurship, and even political mobilization among Kenyan youth, concerns about online risks are equally prominent. The CA's guidelines and the proposed amendment bill represent Kenya's strategy to mitigate these risks, balancing the benefits of digital access with the critical need for child protection in an increasingly interconnected world.