Snap introduces private profiles for users aged 13-15

Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP) announced changes to its platform that will limit content sharing for users aged 13-15 to friends only, according to a company statement.

The social media company said it will roll out dedicated profiles for younger teens that allow them to create, save and showcase Stories and Spotlight videos visible exclusively to mutually accepted friends. Content from users in this age group will no longer be distributed to non-friend audiences on Spotlight, the company's public short-form video platform.

Previously, Snapchatters under 16 could post to Spotlight without profile attribution. The new system creates a friends-only environment for the 13-15 age group, while users aged 16-17 receive what the company describes as an optional introduction to public sharing with additional safeguards.

The updated profiles for younger users will not display metrics such as favorite counts. Users aged 18 and older maintain full access to public profiles and broader distribution tools.

Snap said the changes are part of its approach to building age-appropriate protections into the platform. The company cited privacy and safety as primary considerations for the modification.

Additional safety features for all users under 18 include default privacy settings, protections against unwanted contact, and content moderation. The platform also offers Family Center, a tool that allows parents to view their teen's friend list, set content restrictions, and report accounts.

The company stated that users under 16 cannot receive friend requests from people they potentially do not know, and teens cannot be messaged by anyone they have not added as a friend or have in their phone contacts.

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