Snapchat updates content controls for teen users

Snapchat is updating its Family Center Content Controls, allowing parents to filter out Stories from publishers or creators that may have been identified as sensitive or suggestive.

To enable Content Controls, parents will need to have an existing Family Center set up with their teen. 

Family Center was introduced on Snapchat last year to offer parents a way to gain insight into who their teens are communicating with on Snapchat and in a way that still protects their teens’ privacy. 

Snap: "Our platform and policies are designed to prevent unvetted content from going viral, and we proactively moderate public-facing content from creators and Snapchatters before it’s eligible to get reach on either Stories or Spotlight."

Snap is also publically publishing its Content Guidelines for members of the community whose content appears on Stories or Spotlight.

These guidelines outline content that is prohibited, which content is eligible for recommendation on Stories or Spotlight and which content is considered sensitive and could be restricted using the new Content Controls. 

Snap: "We have always shared these guidelines with our media partners and Snap Stars. By publishing these full content guidelines for anyone to read, we want to offer greater transparency into the stronger standards we set for public-facing content and into our eligibility requirements for distribution. 

"We’re also working on adding additional tools to our Family Center around My AI, our experimental chatbot, that would give parents more visibility and control around their teens’ usage of My AI."

Henry Turnbull, APAC head of policy at Snap, said: “Following the launch of Family Centre last year, we’ve expanded these parental tools to help further safeguard our younger users in Australia and around the world.

"With our new Content Controls, we’re offering parents and guardians more choices and support when it comes to filtering the content their teens can view. Our aim is to help parents, carers and teens to personalise their Snapchat experience to one that is right for their family, and to empower productive conversations between parents and teens about online safety.”