Snapchat has updated its policies to restrict users aged 13 to 15 from sharing Spotlight posts publicly. As of this week, these users can only share Spotlight content with people they mutually follow, and their posts will not be visible to the general public, according to medianama.com. The platform also introduced a separate profile view for this age group, limiting visibility and engagement metrics.
Previously, Snapchat allowed users aged 13 to 15 to post Spotlight videos publicly without linking posts to their profiles, which prevented direct contact from strangers. Now, the company requires users to confirm they are at least 13 years old to register, and accounts detected to belong to users under 13 are deleted. Additionally, users aged 13 to 17 cannot later change their birth year to 18 or older to bypass restrictions. Snapchat also blocks friend requests and messages from strangers to teenage users and limits the types of content available to them.
These changes come amid increased legal scrutiny over Snap’s impact on young users. Earlier this year, Snap settled a US lawsuit accusing the company of facilitating social media addiction among teens and is contesting similar lawsuits nationwide. CEO Evan Spiegel has acknowledged studies showing the platform’s effects on younger audiences, prompting these new safety measures to protect teens from unwanted exposure and interactions.
Snapchat’s updated teen safety policies were announced this week, with the new Spotlight sharing restrictions now in effect for users aged 13 to 15, as detailed by medianama.com.