Amid expanding global debates about potential age limits on social media usage, Snapchat is experimenting with a new process that’ll enable teens aged 16 and 17 to share their posts with a broader audience in the app.
Though it won’t be public posting, as such.
Snapchat already has various protections in place to limit exposure for young users, which include public posting restrictions in the app. And now, Snap’s trying out a new way to give teens a way to further share their content, in a safer, more privacy-focused way.
As per Snap:
“Informed by feedback from our community, older teens will be able to post content to a new publicly viewable content page within their profile built with thoughtful protections in place. These capabilities will be rolling out slowly to our community.”
So rather than posting publicly as older users can, teen users will have a new, filtered process that enables broader sharing.
“Now Snapchatters who are 16+ and want to share their creativity can post a public Story or share a video to Spotlight with attribution back to their publicly viewable content page within their profile that has extra safeguards in place. There, they can save their Stories and Spotlights to showcase their favorite posts.”
Teen content will only be distributed to a limited audience of mutual and expanded connections, while teens will also be limited in how they can engage with non-connections via this process.
Snapchat further notes that it’ll include additional controls over each piece of content, which will enable users to determine where each of their Snaps is shared, and who can view such.
“On Snapchat, it is always more than a one-time choice to simply be public or be private.”
That’s a good line, and expanded sharing within this approach will give older teens more opportunities for exposure and connection in the app.
Though Snap will also need to tread carefully here. Last week, the State of New Mexico filed a lawsuit which alleges that Snapchat has repeatedly failed protect children from sextortion, sexual exploitation, and harm in the app.
Expanded sharing options could also broaden the risk profile in this respect, and with scrutiny on social apps rising, Snap will need to ensure that it is indeed taking a measured approach to this new roll out.
But it could also open new doors for older teen users, which could make Snap an even bigger part of their life. There’s a clear balance to maintain, but Snap does seem to have the right systems in place to expand this element.
