SNAPCHAT CEO SAYS PLATFORM COULD INTRODUCE TIME LIMITS FOR TEENAGERS

Thu 17 September 2026:

Evan Spiegel says restrictions on teenage screen time could be an important industry step as concerns grow over social media’s effects on children

Snapchat could introduce time limits for teenage users, with Snap CEO Evan Spiegel saying the company is “willing to implement” restrictions aimed at reducing young people’s time on the platform.

Speaking to the BBC at Snap’s headquarters in California on Wednesday, Spiegel said imposing limits on how long teenagers can use Snapchat could be “an important step forward for the industry.”

“That’s something we’ve talked about internally,” he said, without giving a timetable for any possible changes. “I don’t have more to share today.”

His comments came after Meta urged other social media companies to consider similar restrictions following an agreement with US states that included new safeguards for teenage users.

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Meta Introduces Stricter Teen Controls

Under the multibillion-dollar settlement reached in August, Meta agreed to pay $12.7 billion and introduce a default two-hour daily usage limit for teenagers across its platforms.

The measures also include muting notifications during school hours and restricting access during nighttime hours.

“I think that would be beneficial overall,” Spiegel told the BBC. “We’ve looked really thoughtfully at the terms.”

Meta has said it would impose stricter limits and pay an additional $5.3 billion if YouTube and TikTok adopt comparable measures. The company denied wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

A Meta spokesperson said last month that the company hoped Snap would implement similar restrictions.

Spiegel pointed to Snapchat’s existing Family Center, which provides parents with tools to monitor certain aspects of their teenagers’ activity on the platform.

“We want to figure out how we can be part of the solution,” he added.

Growing Concerns Over Social Media and Children

The discussion comes amid increasing concern about the amount of time children and teenagers spend on social media and the potential consequences of prolonged or problematic use.

Heavy social media use has been associated in research with a range of concerns for young people, including sleep disruption, reduced concentration, exposure to cyberbullying, social comparison, body-image pressures and symptoms of anxiety or depression. The effects can vary significantly between individuals, and researchers continue to examine how factors such as the type of content consumed, frequency of use and existing vulnerabilities affect children.

Social media can also expose young users to harmful or age-inappropriate material, targeted advertising, online harassment and pressure to gain approval through likes, followers and comments.

Nighttime use is a particular concern because notifications and extended screen time can interfere with sleep. Poor sleep among children and teenagers can, in turn, affect attention, learning, mood and daily functioning.

At the same time, social platforms can provide young people with opportunities for communication, entertainment, creativity and access to communities and information. The debate therefore increasingly focuses on how platforms can reduce harmful experiences while preserving those benefits.

Lawsuits Target Major Social Platforms

Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snap are facing lawsuits alleging that their platforms have contributed to harm to young people’s mental health.

Snap has separately faced allegations that its platform was used to facilitate illegal drug sales.

The growing legal and political pressure has placed greater attention on parental controls, age-appropriate design and limits on teenagers’ social media use.

For Snapchat, Spiegel’s comments indicate that stricter time controls are under consideration, although the company has not announced when — or whether — such limits will be introduced.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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