Snapchat restricts users under the age of 16 from sharing Spotlights with friends

In an effort to protect underage users from being profiled, Snapchat is adding new restrictions to govern content on its platform: Only users between the ages of 13 and 15 will be able to share Spotlight posts with people they follow.

Users under 16 will get a separate profile to view Stories and Spotlight posts of friends they follow, the social network said. These users’ content will not display metrics, such as favorite counts, that pressure high engagement.

Until now, Snapchat has allowed this group of users to share Spotlight posts with everyone, even though their posts are not attributed to their profiles, preventing other users from contacting them.

Users between the ages of 16 and 18 can still share Spotlight posts publicly, but their posts will be limited to friends, followers, and users with whom they share mutual friends. Additionally, parents can see how much time their children spend on parts of the platform, such as Stories and Spotlight, Through the Family Center.

The company currently prohibits strangers from sending friend requests or messages to teens. The app displays a warning message to teenage users if they start a conversation with a stranger, and also restricts the type of content teens can see on the platform.

Social media platforms like Instagram have also moved to restrict teenage users’ experiences in recent years. Including the introduction of specialized accounts.

Earlier this year, Snap settled lawsuit Which accused her of inciting social media addiction. It is fighting other similar cases across the United States

In an interview with CNBCSnap CEO Evan Spiegel cited some studies to say that Snapchat has a “positive effect” on users because it connects them with friends, and that the service should not be combined with the likes of TikTok and Instagram.