Snapchat is introducing a new experience for older teens (ages 16 and 17) to share content publicly with enhanced safeguards, education, and parental tools. This initiative is being tested in limited markets and will roll out gradually.
Key Features for Snapchatters 16+
- Public Sharing Options: Teens can post public Stories or Spotlight videos with attribution to a publicly viewable content page in their profile, which includes additional safeguards.
- Controlled Posting: Users can decide where each Snap is shared, who can see it, and if it is saved to their profile, offering more than a simple public or private choice.
Enhanced Safeguards
- Engagement from Real Friends: Teens can only communicate directly with mutually accepted friends or contacts. Public Story replies are filtered and stricter for this age group, with options to turn off replies or block terms.
- Limited Distribution: Public Stories from teens are only recommended to friends, followers, or mutual friends, and are not distributed in the "Discover" section.
- Minimal Metrics: Teens will not see how many people “favorited” their Stories or Spotlights, focusing on creativity over public approval.
- Proactive Review: Spotlight videos undergo human and machine review before wide recommendation to ensure compliance with Content Guidelines.
Parental Tools
- Family Center: Parents will soon be able to see if their teens have an active public story or saved content publicly, facilitating conversations about responsible public sharing.
Snapchat aims to empower teens' self-expression while maintaining high safety and privacy standards, continually improving based on testing feedback.
