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 pressured social media companies to adopt similar measures as part of a recent legal settlement with U.S. states. Spiegel described a potential time limit as 'an important step forward for the industry.'
Snap recently announced new features for its upcoming Specs glasses, which are designed to connect with Apple devices. Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, is facing allegations from Attorneys General across most U.S. states, claiming that its apps are designed to be addictive to young users. As part of a settlement, Meta agreed to pay $12.7 billion and implement a two-hour daily limit for teen users by default, along with other measures such as muted notifications during school hours.
Spiegel noted that Snap has been considering the idea of a default time limit but did not provide a specific timeline for implementation. He emphasized that Snap offers tools through its Family Center feature, allowing parents to monitor their teens' usage of Snapchat.
In the same interview, Spiegel discussed the new Specs glasses, which will retail for $2,195 in the U.S. and £1,995 in the U.K. The glasses will use AI to provide personalized suggestions based on users' goals and routines. Snap aims to create a product that balances immersive capabilities with a lightweight design, distinguishing it from existing VR headsets and other smart glasses on the market.
The Specs glasses do not utilize facial recognition technology and include a visible indicator when recording video or taking photos, addressing privacy concerns associated with similar devices. Despite challenges, Snap continues to innovate in the wearable tech space, following the less successful launch of its previous Spectacles product.