UK Minors Lose Default Snapchat Friend Suggestions Under Ofcom Pressure
Snapchat has switched off its Find Friends feature by default for users under 18 across the United Kingdom following regulatory intervention aimed at curtailing online grooming risks. The change directly alters how British children and teenagers interact on the platform by blocking automatic contact suggestions from strangers.
Ofcom Threatens 10% Revenue Fines as Police Data Links Platform to Minor Offenses
Under-18 accounts in the UK can no longer be discovered through the automated Find Friends tool by default, fulfilling a commitment Snapchat previously made in May. Media regulator Ofcom confirmed it is monitoring the implementation this month and warned that technology firms failing to mitigate child safety threats face financial penalties up to 10% of their qualifying global revenue. Snapchat informed the watchdog that additional age-verification measures for accounts under 18 are expected to be operational by the end of the year.
A 2025 analysis of police data by the NSPCC revealed that Snapchat accounted for 40% of recorded offenses involving sexual communication with children where a platform was identified, while Ofcom figures show 32% of British children aged 8 to 12 actively use the service despite its official minimum age requirement of 13.
