Snap chief executive Evan Spiegel says the company is willing to consider default time limits for teenage users as social media firms face growing pressure over online safety.
Snapchat’s parent company has said it would be open to introducing time limits for teenage users, following moves by rival social media firms to place greater restrictions on young people’s screen time.
Snap chief executive Evan Spiegel told the BBC that setting a maximum amount of time teenagers could spend on the platform could become an important industry-wide measure.
“I think it is an important step forward in the industry in terms of really identifying industry norms, and I think that would be beneficial overall,” Spiegel said.
His comments come after Meta agreed to a multibillion-dollar settlement with US states over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that encouraged addictive use among young people.
As part of the agreement, Meta will introduce a two-hour daily usage limit for teenage users across Instagram and Facebook by default, alongside other measures including muted notifications during school hours and restrictions on overnight use.
Meta has denied wrongdoing as part of the settlement but has encouraged other technology companies to introduce similar protections.
The company has said it would provide additional payments if platforms including YouTube and TikTok also adopt stronger limits.
When asked about a default time limit for Snapchat users, Spiegel said it was “a really good example” of a measure the company would be willing to implement.
However, he did not provide a timeline for when such a feature could be introduced, saying it was something Snap had discussed internally.
Snap already offers parental controls through its Family Center feature, which allows parents to monitor some aspects of how their teenagers use Snapchat.
“We want to figure out how we can be part of the solution,” Spiegel said.
The comments come as social media companies face increasing scrutiny from governments, regulators and families over the impact of online platforms on young people.
Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snap have all faced lawsuits alleging their products contributed to a youth mental health crisis. Snap has also faced separate criticism over claims its platform has been used for illegal drug sales.
Alongside discussing teen safety, Spiegel revealed new details about Snap’s upcoming Specs smart glasses, which the company says will be able to connect with Apple iPhone and Mac devices.
The latest comments suggest that social media firms are increasingly moving towards shared approaches to youth protection, as governments around the world consider new rules for platforms used by children and teenagers.
Snapchat boss open to time limits for teens
