Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snap Inc., stated in an interview with the BBC that the company would be open to implementing time limits for teenage users of Snapchat. This consideration follows a call from Meta, which has recently agreed to a multi-billion dollar legal settlement with U.S. states regarding the design of its apps. Spiegel mentioned that establishing a maximum time for young users could represent 'an important step forward for the industry.'
Meta has been under pressure from Attorneys General across most U.S. states, who allege that the company designed its platforms to be addictive for younger audiences. As part of the settlement, Meta agreed to pay $12.7 billion and implement a default two-hour daily limit for teen users, along with additional measures such as muted notifications during school hours and restrictions at night.
Spiegel expressed that adopting similar measures could help define industry norms, stating, 'I think it is an important step forward in the industry in terms of really identifying industry norms, and I think that would be beneficial overall.' However, he did not provide a timeline for when Snap might take action regarding time limits.
In addition to discussing potential time limits, Spiegel highlighted new features for Snap's upcoming Specs glasses, which are designed to connect with Apple devices. The smart eyewear will utilize AI to provide personalized suggestions based on user preferences. The Specs glasses will retail for $2,195 in the U.S. and £1,995 in the U.K., targeting early tech adopters and developers.
Spiegel noted that the Specs glasses would not use facial recognition technology and would indicate when recording is taking place with a flashing light. This design aims to address privacy concerns that have arisen with other smart glasses on the market.
Meta's glasses, which have faced criticism for privacy issues, continue to sell well, with seven million pairs sold. Snap's Specs glasses are positioned as a new category of wearable technology, balancing immersive capabilities with lightweight design.