Snapchat Turns Off Find Friends By Default For UK Users Under 18

Snapchat is rolling out a change in the UK that sets its Find Friends feature to off by default for users under 18, according to Ofcom. The country's online safety watchdog welcomed the move while saying it is long overdue. Snap is expected to complete the rollout this month.

What Find Friends Does

The feature is Snap's friend-finding tool. It uses information such as age, location, and existing friends and followers to make adding friends easier. Snap says it is intended for close and trusted real-life connections while prioritizing user safety.

Ofcom's Response

Oliver Griffiths, director for Ofcom's Online Safety Group, called the change an important and welcome improvement in child online safety, given how widely Snapchat is used by UK children. He said Ofcom will hold the company to account on completing the rollout this month. Griffiths also said Snap will add highly effective age checks by the end of this year and that tech companies that do not improve protections for younger users will face enforcement actions.

Wider UK and EU Scrutiny

Ofcom can fine non-compliant companies up to 18 million pounds or 10 percent of qualifying worldwide revenue. The UK is also planning to ban social media for users under 16, as announced by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier this year. Outside the UK, the European Union has opened a formal investigation into Snap over possible breaches of the Digital Services Act, particularly related to protecting younger users.

Sources: Engadget