- The minimum age
- What changes as you get older
- Why the number is higher in some places
- Creator features have their own age gates
- The teen protections in practice
- What happens if someone lies about their age
- How to set it up safely for a teen
- A quick word on other Snap services
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
You have to be at least 13 to have Snapchat, and older in places where local law sets a higher minimum. Being 13 only gets you the basic app, though: Public Profiles start at 16 and the monetization program needs you to be 18 or the age of majority where you live.
Snapchat's age rule is written into its Terms of Service, and it's more layered than the single number most people quote. Here's what applies at each age, straight from Snap's own pages.
The minimum age
Snap's terms say you must be 13, or older depending on where you live, to use Snapchat, and that some of its other services may require you to be 18 or older. If Snap finds out an account belongs to someone under the minimum, it suspends the account and deletes the account and its data. It can also ask you to verify your age.
What changes as you get older
| Age | What Snap allows |
|---|---|
| Under 13 | No account. Snap deletes accounts it finds belonging to under-13s |
| 13 to 15 | A teen account with safety and privacy settings on by default, and no Public Profile |
| 16 and 17 | A Public Profile is possible, switched off by default, with limited distribution |
| 18 and over | Full adult account, and eligibility for the monetization program if you meet its other rules |
The detail most parents don't know: even when a 16 or 17 year old turns on a Public Profile, Snap says their public Stories are only recommended to their friends, followers and people they share mutual friends with. They aren't pushed out to the wider community, and teens can't see how many people favorited their Stories or Spotlights. That's a deliberate brake on chasing numbers.
Why the number is higher in some places
The terms are careful to say 13 or older depending on where you live. Snap's help centre makes the same point about Public Profiles: the minimum is 16, but laws in your country or region may set a different age. If you're not sure what applies where you are, check your local rules before setting up an account for a child.
Creator features have their own age gates
If the question behind the question is 'when can I start growing an audience on Snapchat', the answer is 16 for public posting and 18 for the monetization program. Snap's help centre lists being at least 18, or the age of legal majority in your country, as a compliance requirement for the program, and its Monetization Terms tie eligibility to age, location and parental consent.
The teen protections in practice
Snap's teen privacy page lists the defaults that come with a 13 to 17 account. Safety and privacy settings are switched on from the start, and tagging is limited: Snapchatters can only tag each other in Snaps, Stories or Spotlight videos if they're already friends, or followers of an account with a Public Profile. Teen Public Stories also get stricter filtering on replies. None of this needs setting up, which is exactly why the date of birth matters so much.
What happens if someone lies about their age
Plenty of kids type in an older birthday to get past the sign-up screen. It works until it doesn't. Snap's terms say you may be required to verify your age, and that if Snap becomes aware someone is under the minimum it suspends their use and deletes the account and data. So a fake birthday doesn't just risk the account, it also switches off the teen protections that would otherwise apply.
How to set it up safely for a teen
- Use the teen's real date of birth. Snap's protections depend on it, and a fake age can get the account deleted later if Snap asks for verification.
- Leave the default privacy settings on for 13 to 15 year olds; they're there for a reason.
- Talk about who can see what before they turn on a Public Profile at 16.
- Revisit the settings at 18, when the adult account and creator options open up.
A quick word on other Snap services
The terms also say some of Snap's other services may require you to be 18 or older, and the monetization program is the obvious example. So if a teen asks why a feature their older friends have isn't showing up for them, the age on the account is usually the answer, not a bug. Don't change the birthday to fix it; that's the one move that can get the whole account removed.
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My verdict
Thirteen is the floor, not the green light for everything. If you're a parent, the default teen settings do a lot of the work for you, so keep them. If you're a young creator, use the years before 16 to learn the app, not to fight it. When you're ready to grow, my guide to growing followers on Snapchat is a good next read, and so is this Snapchat strategy guide if it's for a business.
Frequently asked questions
Can a child under 13 have Snapchat?
No. Snap's terms set the minimum at 13, or older where local law requires it, and Snap deletes accounts it finds belonging to anyone under the minimum.
Can 13 year olds have a public Snapchat profile?
No. Snap's teen privacy page says 13 to 15 year olds don't have access to Public Profiles; the help centre sets the minimum age for a Public Profile at 16.
Can a 16 year old post to Spotlight publicly?
Older teens aged 16 and 17 can have a Public Profile, which is off by default, and their public Stories are only recommended to friends, followers and people with mutual friends.
Does Snapchat check your age?
It can. Snap's terms say you may be required to verify your age, and accounts found to belong to someone under the minimum are suspended and deleted.
What age can you join the Snapchat monetization program?
The monetization program requires you to be at least 18, or the age of legal majority in your country, along with its other requirements.
