Snapchat’s Commitment to Teen Safety and Age-Appropriate Content
Snapchat’s introducing a series of updates designed to enhance the safety of its teenage users (aged 13-17) and ensure age-appropriate content. These features have developed through collaboration with the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Stricter Protections Against Unknown Contacts
One of the key updates has aimed at making it more challenging for unknown users to contact teenagers on the platform. Snapchat will now display in-app warnings when a minor attempts to add a friend who does not share mutual friends or isn’t in their contact list. This notification encourages teenagers to consider their decision to connect with unfamiliar individuals.
Geographic Restrictions on Friend Suggestions
Snapchat is taking geographical measures to enhance safety. In multiple countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, the platform will minimize the chances of a teenager appearing as a suggested friend to another user outside their existing friend network.
Strengthened Resources for Caregivers and Parents
To support caregivers and parents, Snapchat has updated its resources. These include informative videos, a comprehensive caregiver guide on app usage, a safety checklist, and a step-by-step guide for utilizing the app’s parental controls.
Default Safety Settings for Teen Accounts
Snapchat has already implemented default safety settings for teen accounts, which include limitations on contact search results and blocking location sharing. The recent updates bolster these measures by introducing stricter content controls and in-app educational initiatives. These educational resources designed to empower young users with knowledge about online safety.
Snapchat’s commitment to enhancing teen safety and content appropriateness demonstrates its dedication to fostering a secure and age-appropriate environment for its young users.
