Snapchat to tackle fake news

Snapchat (now Snap Inc) appears to getting more cautious about what shows up in its app’s Discover section. The New York Times published a report on 23 January that suggested that the photo-sharing app has introduced a set of guidelines that require publishers to start fact-checking ‘Discover’ content — both linked and that which exists within the app. The rules prohibit misleading and click-bait headlines or images.

Snapchat also prohibits profanity, overly sexualised content and violent content. The news should come with an appropriate warning before showcased to the viewers. Publishers can also filter content on the basis of the age of the users. The changes are aimed to “empower our editorial partners to do their part to keep Snapchat an informative, factual and safe environment for everyone,” said Rachel Racusen was reported by The New York Times as saying.

The new change could benefit Snapchat in many ways. The app would become appealing to both advertisers and investors.

Snapchat introduced the ‘Discover’ feature back in January, 2015. The feature was a part of its app which would essentially publish content from established media brands like CNN and Cosmopolitan. Snapchat used ‘Discover’ to engage users more deeply.

The ‘Discover’ feature has grown quickly with over 100 million Snapchat users viewing content on Discover each month. However, in July, a class-action lawsuit filed against the company alleged that the ‘Discover’ feature ‘intentionally’ exposed minors to harmful, offensive, prurient and sexually offensive content without warning minors or their parents that they would be exposed to such explicit content. The lawsuit was dismissed later that year as both sides agreed to settle.