Snapchat users between 13 and 15 years old can no longer share Spotlight posts publicly. Instead, these posts are visible only to people they follow back or mutual friends, effective since June 10, 2026, when Snapchat announced the new restrictions [1, 2].
Profiles for users under 16 are also segregated, so their Stories and Spotlight posts can only be seen by mutual friends. Additionally, key engagement metrics such as favorite counts have been removed from Spotlight posts by these younger teenagers to reduce social pressure and negative impacts from public popularity contests [1, 2].
Users aged 16 to 18 still have the ability to share Spotlight posts publicly but with some limitations. Their posts can be shared with friends, followers, and mutual friends, but the full public reach is curtailed compared to adult users [1].
Snapchat has taken several additional steps to safeguard teenage users. The company prevents strangers from sending friend requests or messages to teens and displays warnings if teens begin chatting with unknown users. Parents can also monitor their children's time spent on features like Stories and Spotlight via the Family Center parental controls [1].
These measures come amid increased scrutiny of teen safety and privacy on social media, with Snapchat facing several lawsuits related to child protection on its platform [1, 2]. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel defended the platform, stating Snapchat has a "positive impact" by connecting users with friends and should not be grouped with services like TikTok and Instagram [1].
The new sharing restrictions took effect on June 10, 2026, and apply specifically to users aged 13 through 15 years old [1, 2].
