Snapchat · Snapchat Terms of Service

Age Restriction and Parental Consent

High severity
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Why it matters

Snapchat's age verification relies on self-reported age rather than technical verification, which means children under 13 may access the platform without parental knowledge, and COPPA protections may not be effectively enforced.

Consumer impact

Snapchat's Terms grant the company a broad, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute anything you post — including photos, videos, and messages — which persists even after you delete content in some contexts. US users waive their right to participate in class action lawsuits and must resolve disputes through binding individual arbitration, which significantly limits legal recourse. You can review and adjust your privacy and data settings within the Snapchat app under Settings > Privacy Controls to limit some forms of data use.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    COPPA (16 CFR Part 312) gives the FTC enforcement authority over platforms that collect personal information from children under 13, including through inadequate age verification mechanisms.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    California's AB 2273 and other state children's online privacy laws give state AGs authority to enforce enhanced protections for minors on platforms like Snapchat.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Snapchat Terms of Service
Entity
Snapchat
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
April 1, 2026
Last verified
April 1, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-000738
Document ID
CA-D-00103
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
2f21cc726a069b22113361866904347df10dce152d863d062e80dafa8ecf8f24
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Snapchat | Document: Snapchat Terms of Service | Record: CA-P-000738
Captured: 2026-04-01 14:23:12 UTC | SHA-256: 2f21cc726a069b22…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/snapchat/snapchat-terms-of-service/age-restriction-and-parental-consent/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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