Snap Inc., the owner of Snapchat, has banned anonymous messaging apps that facilitated online bullying and pledged to revise its policies to address any type of experiences connected to the platform that could be built using its developer tools. The company prohibits anonymous messaging apps and requires that any person building apps for finding friends restrict these apps to users aged 18 and above. Current developers are given 30 days to comply with the new policies.
These changes are limited to third-party apps integrated with Snapchat and do not aim to address other child safety issues on the platform. The company states that the policy update affects a small subset of its community of over 1,500 developers. About 2% of developers are impacted by the ban on anonymous messaging apps, while around 3% are affected by the new age requirements for their apps.
The company also noted that developers who remove anonymous messaging from their apps can resubmit their apps for review and remain Snap Kit partners. The company said, "We want our users to enjoy and stay safe when using our services, and this goal drives the design of our products, policies, and systems for external developers." They added, "We are also focused on building technologies that support real human connections and communications between close friends. This principle helps create safer and more positive online experiences."
Sendit is one of the apps that significantly benefited from the previous ban on anonymous messaging apps. However, it is among the apps that need to make changes to continue working with Snapchat. In the months following the ban, Sendit gained millions of additional downloads from teens still looking for a way to post anonymous questions and answers.
In addition to banning anonymous messages, Snapchat now limits friend-finding apps to adult users aged 18 and older. These friend-finding apps are designed to connect users with strangers on the platform, which can encourage people to share their personal information. The apps are often used for dating or text messaging rather than for finding friends. Law enforcement officials and child safety experts have warned for years about child predators on Snapchat.
The ban on anonymous messages and the restrictions on friend-finding apps are the two main changes being implemented in the policies. However, the company indicates that developer apps must still undergo a review process. They must answer questions regarding use cases and present proposed integrations. The company also stated that it conducts periodic reviews every six months to ensure that app functionalities have not changed in a way that violates its policies. They added that any developer who deliberately seeks to deceive them will be removed from Snap Kit and the developers' platform entirely.
