Snapchat is testing new sharing options for older teens

As debates mount around the world over possible age limits for social media use, Snapchat is experimenting with a new process that will allow teens as young as 16 and 17 to share their posts on the app with a wider audience.

Although it won’t be a public posting.

Snapchat already has several protections in place to limit young users’ exposure, including restrictions on public postings in the app. And now Snap is trying out a new way to give teens a way to share their content further, in a safer, more private way.

According to Snap:

“Informed by feedback from our community, older teens will be able to post content to a new, publicly visible content page within their profile, built with thoughtful protections. These capabilities are being slowly rolled out to our community.”

Instead of older users making their posts public, teen users will be given a new, filtered process that allows them to share their posts more widely.

“Now, Snapchatters who are 16+ and want to share their creativity can post a public Story or share a video with Spotlight with attribution back to their publicly visible content page within their profile, which has additional protections. There, they can save their Stories and Spotlights to showcase their favorite posts.”

Teen content is only distributed to a limited audience of mutual and extended connections. Furthermore, teens are limited in the ways in which they can communicate with non-connections through this process.

Snapchat also said that additional controls will be coming to each piece of content, allowing users to determine where their Snaps are shared and who can view them.

“On Snapchat, it’s always more than a one-time choice to just be public or private.”

That’s a good line. By sharing more within this approach, older teens get more opportunities for exposure and connection within the app.

Although Snap needs to tread carefully here too. Last week, the state of New Mexico filed a lawsuit alleging that Snapchat has repeatedly failed to protect children from sextortion, sexual exploitation, and harm on the app.

Expanded sharing options could also increase the risk profile in this regard. And with social apps coming under increasing scrutiny, Snap will need to ensure it takes a measured approach to this new rollout.

But it could also open new doors for older teen users, making Snap an even bigger part of their lives. There’s a clear balance to be struck, but Snap seems to have the right systems in place to expand this element.