Snapchat has introduced new parental controls as part of its Family Center tool, offering parents deeper insights into their teens’ screen time and interactions on the platform. This update comes just days after the company settled a lawsuit accusing it of contributing to social media addiction and mental health issues among teens. The new features aim to address growing concerns from regulators and parents regarding the safety of children using the app.
Parents can now track their teen’s daily screen time on Snapchat, viewing a breakdown of how their time is spent across various parts of the app, including chatting, snapping, using Snap Map, and watching content on Spotlight and Stories. These features offer parents more transparency, helping them monitor how much time their child is spending on the platform and in what areas.
Additionally, the update allows parents to see more detailed information about their teen’s new friends on Snapchat. For example, they can check whether the new contact is someone their teen knows personally, based on mutual friends, shared communities, or saved contacts. This feature aims to help parents better understand their child’s social circle, making it easier to have informed discussions about online safety.
Snapchat first launched Family Center in 2022 to give parents a way to monitor their children’s activities and help prevent harmful interactions. Since then, Snap has expanded the tool, adding features such as the ability to see recent interactions, set time limits, and block access to the app’s My AI chatbot. These additions reflect Snap’s commitment to increasing transparency and supporting parental oversight in response to public concerns over teen safety on social media platforms.
The latest features come amid a lawsuit settlement with a 19-year-old user who accused Snapchat and other social media giants of promoting addiction and causing mental health issues. Although Snapchat has resolved this specific case, other legal battles are ongoing, with similar claims made against platforms like Meta, YouTube, and TikTok.
Snapchat’s new parental controls provide a much-needed resource for parents looking to safeguard their teens’ social media experience. As the company continues to refine Family Center, these features could play a crucial role in improving transparency and user safety, addressing concerns about screen time and online interactions.
