In a significant move to enhance child safety, Snapchat has begun disabling its "Find Friends" suggestion feature for users under 18 in the UK by default. This change comes as a direct response to intense pressure from the UK media regulator, Ofcom, which has been urging tech companies to better protect young users from the rising threat of online grooming. While the platform remains accessible, younger users will no longer appear in random recommendations or see suggested contacts unless they manually adjust their settings.

Regulators have increasingly scrutinized the platform, particularly after reports revealed that a large percentage of children aged eight to 12 are using the app despite its 13+ age requirement. Ofcom highlighted that Snapchat was involved in a substantial portion of recorded sexual communication offenses involving minors, prompting the push for more rigorous safeguards. While the company is working toward implementing more effective age verification by 2026, Ofcom plans to closely monitor this rollout throughout November to ensure these protective measures are fully enforced.