Snapchat's Find Friends Feature Will Be Off By Default For UK Users Under 18

Snapchat will turn its “Find Friends” feature off by default for UK users under 18 starting this month, according to Ofcom. The tool uses age, location and existing connections to suggest people to add, and Snap says it is intended to support close, trusted real-world relationships while prioritizing safety. Ofcom’s online safety group director Oliver Griffiths called the change an important and welcome improvement but said it was long overdue, and the regulator will hold Snap to account for completing the rollout this month. The move matters because Ofcom has previously criticized Snapchat’s protections for minors despite the app’s wide use among UK children. Snap is also expected to add stronger age checks by the end of this year, and Ofcom has warned that platforms failing to improve younger-user protections will face enforcement.