Snapchat
We filed a request for enforcement with regards to Snapchat
Bits of Freedom has filed a request for enforcement with the Authority on Consumers and Markets (ACM) centred around manipulative design in notifications sent by Snapchat.
The influence of Snapchat’s gamification features on young people
Our recent research paper into Snapchat’s gamification features shows that some of the respondents are experiencing negative effects. Think of the feeling of pressure and having more screen time than desired. The results of the research support the importance of freedom of choice on large online platforms. Young people need to have more control over where their attention is going, what they are seeing and what they are displaying of themselves online. We therefore want to use the report to advise policy makers on guidelines on gamification on social media.
How Snapchat manipulates its users through notifications
Our recent research into Snapchat shows that its uses misleading notification. This is not legally allowed. Namely, the European Digital Services Act prohibits misleading and manipulative design on online platforms. The research serves as input for possible enforcement actions by the Dutch Authority for Consumer and Markets (Autoriteit Consument & Markt) and supports our advice to include the regulation of attention-grabbing notifications in the Digital Fairness Act.