Snap Bans Anonymous Messaging Apps, Implements Age Restrictions

pcmag.com:

Snap has reportedly updated its policies for Snap Kit, which among other things allows developers to integrate various aspects of Snapchat into their own apps, in response to several lawsuits filed when multiple teenagers committed suicide after they were bulled via social media.

TechCrunch reports that Snap will no longer allow Snap Kit developers to create anonymous messaging apps with the platform and will require "friend-finding" apps to implement age restrictions in a bid to prevent them from being used by child predators to find potential victims.

These changes appear to have been added to Snap Kit's official Safety Guidelines already:

Dating or friend-finding services are not allowed unless they are age-gated and restricted to users over 18. These integrations will be subject to providing additional information during the Review Process.

Anonymous integrations that facilitate communication between Snapchat users without registered and visible usernames/identities are not permitted.

Snap Kit developers will have 30 days to comply with these new policies, TechCrunch reports, but it doesn't seem like most devs will need to change anything. Snap claims the rule about anonymous messaging apps will affect 2% of developers; the new age restriction will affect 3%.

Snap tells TechCrunch that it wants "to foster an ecosystem that helps apps protect user safety, privacy and well-being while unlocking product innovation for developers and helping them grow their businesses" and will "continue to regularly evaluate our policies, monitor app compliance, and work with developers to better protect the well-being of our community."

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