Snapchat-parent Snap Inc indicated openness to adopting time restrictions for young users, according to comments made by Chief Executive Evan Spiegel in an interview. The statement represents a response to Meta’s push for industrywide changes following a multibillion-dollar legal settlement with US state attorneys general.
Meta faced allegations that it deliberately designed its applications to encourage addictive behavior among minors. The company agreed to pay $12.7 billion and implement a two-hour daily usage cap for teenage users by default, alongside additional restrictions such as muted notifications during school hours and nighttime blocks. Meta further indicated it would accept even stricter limitations and contribute an additional $5.3 billion if competitors including YouTube and TikTok adopt comparable measures.
Spiegel characterized default time limits as “an important step forward for the industry” and noted that Snap had examined the concept internally. However, he declined to specify when or if such measures would be deployed. He referenced the company’s existing Family Center tool, which allows parents to monitor teenage usage patterns on the platform. When pressed on implementation, Spiegel stated the company wanted to be “part of the solution” but offered no concrete commitments.
Google, which owns YouTube, declined to comment on whether it would implement the measures outlined in Meta’s settlement. TikTok did not respond to inquiries. The litigation landscape affecting major social media platforms extends beyond time management concerns, with companies facing various allegations ranging from facilitating youth mental health crises to enabling illegal activities.
Separately, Snap announced forthcoming features for its Specs smart glasses, positioning the devices as a category between virtual reality headsets and conventional eyewear. The company incorporated design elements intended to signal recording activity through a white indicator light, distinguishing its approach from competitor products that some users have modified to obscure recording indicators.
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