Snapchat launches new safety features to protect youth on the platform

In a bid to foster a safe and positive in-app experience, Snapchat has introduced a suite of safety features. Designed to strengthen and reinforce the real friend relationships on the platform, these features aim to further safeguard teens and the broader community from online harms.

This new suite of tools includes improved blocking capabilities, simplified location-sharing, enhanced friending protections and expanded in-chat warnings. These expanded products build on Snapchat’s ongoing work to make it difficult for strangers to contact people.

Snapchatters can always block those whom they no longer wish to be in touch with them. However, bad actors sometimes create new accounts and continue to contact people who have blocked them. To prevent bullying and potential repeat harassment, Snapchat has improved its blocking tools—blocking a user will also now block new friend requests sent from other accounts created on the same device. This limits outreach from other existing or new accounts created by the blocked account.

Snapchat sends its users regular reminders to check their account security and privacy settings, and they can only share their location with people they are friends with. The platform is now introducing more frequent reminders to make sure that they are always up to date on which friends they’re sharing their location with on the Snap Map. It has also introduced simplified location-sharing, making it faster and easier for Snapchatters to customise which of their friends can see their location.

Uthara Ganesh, head of public policy at Snap said, “Young people across India love spending time on our platform, and we are dedicated to making it a safe and positive place for everyone, especially teens. Our newest safety features are all about supporting genuine friendships, empowering teens to make smart choices, and ensuring that every Snapchatter feels secure and confident while using our app."

Snapchat entered India in 2019 and currently has a 200 million strong user base in India, as per Statista. In India, it is zeroing in on attracting a Gen Z audience (ages 13 to 25) with its advanced AR camera filters that set it apart from competitors.  

Last September, Snapchat had announced that teens will not be suggested in Quick Add or Search unless they have multiple mutual connections in common with the other person. The platform is now adding new friending safeguards that make it much harder for strangers to find and add teens. This feature is currently available in a select few countries and will be introduced in a more localised form in India soon.

The above feature will prevent delivery of a friend request altogether when teens send or receive a friend request from someone they don't have mutual friends with, and that person also has a history of accessing Snapchat in locations often associated with scamming activity. This applies regardless of whether the friend request was sent out by the teen, or sent to the teen from the suspected bad actor.

Last year, Snapchat had introduced a pop-up warning when a teen receives a message from someone, they don’t already share mutual friends with or have in their contacts. The message informs teens of potential risk so they can carefully consider if they want to be in contact, and reminds them to only connect with people they trust.

Now the platform is expanding these in-app warnings to incorporate new and advanced signals. Teens will now see a warning message if they receive a chat from someone who has been blocked or reported by others, or is from a region where the teen’s network isn't typically located—signs that the person may be a scammer.  

To kick off an essential dialogue on teen online safety, Snapchat hosted a panel discussion featuring actors Tisca Chopra and Maria Goretti, Snap influencer Nitanshi Goel, Aparajita Bharti, co-founder of Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) and Ganesh. They explored critical topics such as the importance of digital literacy, maximising the use of available online resources, and maintaining open dialogues with teenagers at home.

Commenting on Snapchat’s safety features, Chopra said, “With teenagers spending so much time online, ensuring a safe digital environment is crucial today. I make it a point to stay informed about my daughter’s digital activities without being too intrusive. By fostering a secure space, Snapchat helps our teenagers interact with confidence and peace of mind. This thoughtful approach also encourages open conversations between parents and their teenagers about responsible digital behavior, essential for navigating the digital landscape safely.”

Goretti noted that most teens are at a sensitive age, and it is important for parents to understand their digital lives while ensuring they know their boundaries. “My teenagers use Snapchat regularly, and it’s comforting to know they are in a safe environment. Snapchat’s proactive stance on user safety reassures me that my teens can connect with their real friends in a positive space. Their genuine commitment to protecting users is something every parent can appreciate,” she added.