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| Snapchat restricts apps with new policy |
Snapchat's parent company has banned anonymous messaging apps that encourage cyberbullying and has committed to updating its policies to accommodate any kind of platform experience that can be built with its developer tools.
The company banned anonymous messaging apps and required anyone who created dating apps to restrict these apps to users over the age of 18. Existing developers have 30 days to comply with the new policy.
The changes are limited to third-party apps that integrate with Snapchat and are not designed to address other child safety issues on the platform.
The company said the policy update affects a small percentage of its community of over 1,500 developers. About 2% of developers are affected by the ban on anonymous messaging apps.
About 3% of developers are affected by the new demands of apps of their age. The company also noted that developers who remove anonymous messages from their apps can review their apps and remain Snap Kit partners.
"We want users to enjoy our services and stay safe, and that goal is what drives us to create products, policies, and systems for third-party developers," the company said.
"We're also focused on building technology that supports real-world relationships and relationships between close friends," she added. This principle helps create a safer and more positive online experience.
Sendit is one of the apps that has benefited the most from the previous ban on anonymous messaging apps. But it's one of those apps that needs to change to keep working with Snapchat.
In the months after the ban, Sendit received millions of additional downloads from teens still looking for a way to post anonymous questions and answers.
Snapchat blocks third-party anonymous messaging apps
In addition to blocking anonymous messages, Snap now restricts use of the Friend Finder app to adult users over the age of 18.
Friend finder app is designed to connect users with strangers on the platform. This can encourage people to share their personal information.
These apps are more commonly used for dating or texting rather than making friends. Law enforcement officials and child safety experts have warned pedophiles on Snapchat for years.
Banning anonymous posts and restricting search apps are two major policy changes. However, the company indicated that development apps are still undergoing a review process. They should answer questions about the use case and make suggestions for integration.
The company also said it conducts regular reviews every six months to ensure that the app's functionality hasn't changed in a way that violates its policies. It added that any developer who deliberately cheated on it would be completely removed from Snap Kit and the developer platform.