Snapchat will disable friend suggestions by default for UK under-18s

Snapchat is rolling out a change in the UK that will turn off its Find Friends feature by default for users under 18. The move matters because Ofcom has criticised the company’s protections for children and says the change should reduce the risk of unwanted contact.

Find Friends uses details such as a user’s age, location and existing connections to suggest people to add. Ofcom says Snap plans to introduce stronger age checks by the end of the year and will be held to the rollout this month; it can fine companies up to £18 million or 10 per cent of qualifying worldwide revenue. The UK is also considering a social media ban for under-16s, while the EU has opened an investigation into Snap’s protections for young users.