● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 neutral
Snapchat Disables 'Find Friends' by Default for UK Users Under 18
Key points
- Snapchat's 'Find Friends' is off by default for UK users under 18.
- The rollout begins this month in the UK.
- Ofcom welcomed the change, citing child online safety.
- Snap will add age checks by year-end; non-compliance faces fines.
Default Privacy Setting for Minors
Snapchat has begun implementing a change in the United Kingdom where its 'Find Friends' feature will be set to off by default for users under the age of 18. This feature uses information such as age, location, and existing connections to suggest new friends.
Response to Regulatory Pressure
This adjustment follows scrutiny from Ofcom, the UK's online safety watchdog, which has previously criticized Snapchat for insufficient protections for minors. Ofcom's director for the Online Safety Group, Oliver Griffiths, stated that this is a significant and welcome improvement for child online safety, though he noted it is overdue.
Upcoming Age Verification and Enforcement
Snap has also committed to introducing 'highly effective age checks' by the end of the year. Ofcom has warned that tech companies failing to enhance protections for younger users could face enforcement actions, including fines up to 18 million pounds or 10 percent of their qualifying worldwide revenue.
Broader Regulatory Context
This change occurs within a broader regulatory environment in the UK, where there are plans to ban social media for users under 16. Additionally, the European Union has initiated a formal investigation into Snap to assess its compliance with the Digital Services Act, particularly concerning the protection of younger users.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
Reporting from
Snapchat is rolling out a change in the UK that sets its 'Find Friends' feature to off by default for users under 18. This update responds to concerns from Ofcom, the UK's online safety watchdog, regarding the protection of minors on the platform.