Snapchat open to putting time limits on teens
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel says the firm is willing to consider teen time limits as Meta pushes for industry-wide changes amid a new $2,195 smart glasses reveal.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Snap CEO Evan Spiegel says the company is willing to consider teen time limits.
- The move follows pressure from Meta after a multi-billion dollar legal settlement.
- Snap also unveiled new features for its upcoming Specs glasses connecting to Apple devices.
- The new Specs smart eyewear will retail at $2,195 in the US and £1,995 in the UK.
Evan Spiegel, the chief executive of Snapchat-parent Snap Inc, told the BBC that the firm would be willing to implement time limits for teenage users, following calls from Meta for industry-wide platform changes.
The remarks follow Meta's recent 12.7 billion dollar legal settlement with most US state Attorneys General, who accused the tech giant of designing addictive apps for young users. That settlement mandated a default two-hour daily limit for teens, muted school-hour notifications, and nighttime blocks across Meta platforms.
Meta further stated in August that it would impose stricter limits and pay an extra 5.3 billion dollars if platforms like YouTube and TikTok follow suit. While Spiegel did not commit to an exact timeline for Snap's actions, he highlighted that the company already offers parental monitoring tools via its Family Center feature.
Snap's openness to adopting time limits for teenage users marks a pivotal shift as social media platforms face mounting legal and regulatory scrutiny over youth mental health crises. The pressure from competitor settlements and state litigation is forcing executives to rethink platform safety features and acknowledge their role in shaping digital habits among young audiences.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Alongside the discussion on teen safety, Snap revealed fresh features for its upcoming Specs smart glasses, which are engineered to integrate smoothly with Apple's iPhone and Mac devices. The eyewear leverages artificial intelligence to suggest activities based on user routines and goals.
Priced at 2,195 dollars in the US and 1,995 pounds in the UK, the device targets tech early adopters, software developers, and enterprise users. Snap aims to bridge the gap between heavy VR headsets like Meta's Quest 3 and traditional lightweight smart glasses.
"We want to figure out how we can be part of the solution"
Evan Spiegel
To address privacy concerns that have plagued rival smart eyewear, Snap designed Specs without facial recognition technology. Instead, a prominent white light flashes above the bridge of the nose whenever the device captures a photo or records video, alerting anyone nearby.
Source: BBC Business
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