Snapchat Takes Steps To Protect Teens From Online Stalkers

Snapchat has introduced a series of safety measures aimed at protecting teenage users from online stalking and inappropriate content. The platform”s update focuses on users aged 13 to 17 and grants them more control over who can connect with them on the app.

Under the new measures, teenage users can connect with people they know in real life, primarily through existing friend connections or phone book contacts. If the app detects a suspicious person attempting to contact a teen, the user will receive a pop-up notification. The goal is to ensure that teens only connect with individuals they trust. One-on-one communication between teens and strangers is restricted unless they are already friends on Snapchat or are existing contacts in the user”s phone.

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Additional safeguards have been put in place to prevent strangers from reaching out to teens who do not share mutual friends. Users can also confidentially block any unwanted contacts. Default contact settings for teens will be set to “friends and contacts,” making it more challenging for strangers to connect with young users.

Snapchat”s Snap Map feature, which allows users to see the location of their contacts, will be turned off by default for teen users. If a teen chooses to enable it, their location will only be visible to their friends and contacts. Regarding data management, Snapchat mentioned that while conversations are deleted by default, certain information may be retained to assist law enforcement agencies in investigations.

The platform has also streamlined content for teens by filtering out age-inappropriate content in Stories and Spotlight sections. Content labeling is managed by detection tools that identify accounts spamming users with such material. Accounts repeatedly engaging in promoting inappropriate content will face consequences, including potential banning. These safety measures are part of Snapchat”s efforts to create a safer online environment for teenage users and protect them from potential risks and unwanted interactions.

Snapchat”s recent safety measures represent a significant step forward in prioritising the protection and well-being of its teenage users. By giving young users more control over their connections and implementing safeguards against online stalking and inappropriate content, Snapchat aims to create a safer and more secure environment for its younger audience. These proactive measures, including the ability to block unwanted contacts and filtering out age-inappropriate content, demonstrate Snapchat”s commitment to fostering responsible and respectful online interactions. Overall, these efforts reflect a commendable commitment to ensuring the safety and privacy of teenagers on their platform.