Snapchat has announced a series of new safety features aimed at limiting the ability of bad actors to contact users, particularly minors, on its platform.
This move comes as the company continues to enhance user safety and address criticism regarding the protection of its younger audience.
One of the significant updates includes enhancements to Snapchat’s blocking functionality.
The new system will prevent blocked users from sending friend requests using other accounts created on the same device.
This measure is intended to curb harassment and persistent unwanted contact.
Snapchat has also updated its location-sharing features. Users will receive more frequent reminders about their location-sharing settings on Snap Map.
The process of customizing who can see the user’s location has been simplified, and Snapchat now recommends sharing live locations only with family members or close friends for added safety.
To further protect users, Snapchat has expanded its in-app pop-up warnings.
These warnings will now appear when adding friends who do not share mutual connections or contacts.
Additionally, new alerts will notify users about chats from individuals who have been blocked or reported, or from regions where the teen’s friend network is not typically located.
These features will initially be available in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Nordics, and parts of Europe.
Snapchat is also introducing safeguards to prevent friend requests from users without mutual friends, especially if they have a history of accessing the app in locations linked with scams.
Previously, the platform restricted friend suggestions for users without multiple mutual connections. This new feature will soon be launched in India with localized adjustments.
Uthara Ganesh, Snap’s Head of Public Policy-South Asia, stated, “The new features are designed to support genuine friendships and empower teens to make smart choices on our platform.”
Snapchat remains highly popular among teens, with over 20 million users in the U.S. alone.
However, the platform has faced criticism for what some see as insufficient measures to protect its minor users.
In 2022, Snapchat introduced the Family Centre, which allows parents to monitor their teens’ activities on the platform. Despite its potential benefits, only about 200,000 parents currently use these controls.
