Snapchat limits users under 16 to sharing Spotlights with friends
Snapchat is implementing stricter privacy controls for users under 16, limiting their ability to share Spotlight posts to only those they follow back. These changes aim to protect minors from potential doxxing and reduce social pressure by removing engagement metrics for younger accounts.
Why it matters
This move reflects a broader industry trend of social media platforms facing increased regulatory and legal pressure to prioritize child safety and mitigate the negative mental health impacts of their services.
In an attempt to guard underage users from being doxxed, Snapchat is adding new content control restrictions on its platform: Users between 13 and 15 years old will only be able to share Spotlight posts with people they follow back.
The article reports on corporate policy changes and legal context in a factual, neutral manner without taking a stance on the effectiveness of the measures.
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