You need to be at least 13 years old to use Snapchat. If you are a minor (under 18 in most places), your parent or guardian must also agree to these terms.
This analysis describes what Snapchat's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
Age restrictions are central to Snapchat's compliance with COPPA in the US and similar children's privacy laws globally, and the adequacy of Snap's age verification mechanisms has been a subject of regulatory scrutiny.
Interpretive note: The specific verbatim age eligibility language was not extractable from the truncated document; characterization reflects Snap's publicly known terms structure.
Users under 13 are not permitted to use Snapchat, and minors between 13 and 17 are subject to additional restrictions; parents of minor users should be aware that by allowing use, they are effectively consenting to the terms on the minor's behalf.
How other platforms handle this
You must be at least 13 years old (or the minimum age required in your country) to use Threads. If you are under 18, you must have your parent or legal guardian's permission to use Threads.
Our Services are not directed to children under 13. If you learn that anyone younger than 13 has unlawfully provided us with personal data, please contact us at privacy@medium.com.
The Service is intended for general audiences and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child under the age of 13 has provided us with personal information without your cons...
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"You must be at least 13 years old to use the Services. If you are under the age of majority in your jurisdiction, you represent that your parent or legal guardian has reviewed and agreed to these Terms.— Excerpt from Snapchat's Snapchat Terms of Service
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: COPPA prohibits collecting personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent, and the FTC is the primary enforcement authority. The California Age-Appropriate Design Code (AADC) imposes additional requirements for services likely to be accessed by minors under 18. The UK Children's Code and EU DSA also impose child protection obligations on platforms. (2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: High. Age verification for minors on social platforms has been the subject of active FTC enforcement and Congressional scrutiny. The adequacy of self-reported age verification (versus technical verification mechanisms) is a key compliance risk for platforms with large minor user populations. (3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: California's AADC applies to services with a significant likelihood of being accessed by users under 18, not just under 13. The UK Children's Code similarly applies to services likely to be accessed by minors. EU DSA imposes heightened risk assessment obligations for services accessible to minors. (4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Platforms or brands integrating with Snap's advertising ecosystem should assess whether their campaigns are appropriately age-targeted and whether Snap's minor user protections are sufficient for their own compliance obligations. (5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Legal teams should evaluate whether Snap's current age verification and parental consent mechanisms satisfy COPPA, the California AADC, and comparable international children's privacy standards, and whether any recent regulatory guidance or enforcement actions affect this assessment.
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Age restrictions are central to Snapchat's compliance with COPPA in the US and similar children's privacy laws globally, and the adequacy of Snap's age verification mechanisms has been a subject of regulatory scrutiny.
Users under 13 are not permitted to use Snapchat, and minors between 13 and 17 are subject to additional restrictions; parents of minor users should be aware that by allowing use, they are effectively consenting to the terms on the minor's behalf.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Snapchat.