In response to growing concerns about child safety on social media platforms, Snapchat has announced new parental controls that allow parents to have better oversight and protect their teens while using the app. One of the significant changes is the ability for parents to restrict their teen’s interaction with My AI, Snapchat’s AI-powered chatbot.
Snapchat had faced criticism for launching My AI without appropriate age-gating features. The chatbot was found engaging with minors in conversations about topics such as concealing the smell of marijuana and setting the mood for sexual activities. The introduction of the new restriction feature aims to address these concerns and create a safer environment for users.
The parental control features also include the ability for parents to view their teens’ safety and privacy settings. Parents can now check if their teen has enabled sharing their Stories with a select group of users or all friends. Additionally, parents can gain insights into who can contact their teen on the app by reviewing their contact settings. The location-sharing feature through Snap Map is also visible to parents.
To make parental controls more accessible, Snapchat has updated its Family Center, a dedicated space for parental controls. Parents can now find Family Center directly from their profile or settings, ensuring easy access to monitor and manage their teen’s activity.
Snapchat emphasizes that the goal of these parental controls is to reflect the dynamics of real-world relationships while respecting the privacy of personal communications. The company worked closely with families and online safety experts to develop these features, continually updating them based on feedback and industry insights.
The introduction of enhanced parental controls aligns with Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel’s upcoming testimony before the Senate on child safety. The hearing will also involve executives from other social media platforms, where they will be questioned about their efforts to protect children on their platforms.
Furthermore, Snapchat’s implementation of these controls follows formal requests from the European Commission for information on the steps social networks are taking to safeguard young users. This move demonstrates Snapchat’s commitment to ensuring a safe online experience for teens globally.
In addition to Snapchat, other major social media platforms have also taken steps to address child safety concerns. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, recently announced automatic limitations on the content accessible to teen accounts. These limitations aim to protect users from harmful content related to self-harm, graphic violence, and eating disorders.
The source of the article is from the blog dk1250.com