Incident #496285 · 05 AUG 2026notable
Snapchat UK privacy policy adds age verification tools, Memories face grouping and household ad signals
The updated policy (effective 21 September 2026) says Snap may use automated age-assurance tools and ask users to verify their age, and may use face detection in Memories if face grouping is enabled. Ads may also draw on signals from over-18 Snapchatters in your household. It adds a European contextual advertising section and a Sponsored Snaps placement choice for users in the EU, Norway, Switzerland and Israel. Age inference from activity was already described in the old ads section.
Taken from you
- Snap may use automated age-assurance tools and, based on your region, ask you to verify your age
- If enabled, faces detected in your Memories may be processed for grouping and search
- Ad selection may use information from over-18 Snapchatters in your household
- Automated tools may use account, device, usage and content signals to confirm age-appropriate use
- Snap may use or share information to comply with legal obligations, including to verify users' ages
- iOS no-tracking opt-out wording now allows linking on-device or with technical privacy controls rather than 'not specifically identifying' you
- Friends may see your current or recent activity status
Won back
- Clearer explanation of contextual ads for teens and users who turn off personalisation in Europe
- Sponsored Snaps placement choice for users in EU, Norway, Switzerland and Israel; under-18s only outside Chat feed
Evidence · 4 of 4 quotes matched in source
If you enable certain face grouping features, we may use information about faces in your Memories to improve search, organisation and personalisation in Memories (for example, by suggesting Memories with the same friend).+ inserted · ✓ matched in source
Based on your region, we may also use information you provide to estimate or infer your age or ask you to verify your age.+ inserted · ✓ matched in source
We also may use similar information from Snapchatters in your household who are over 18 to help us choose which ads to show you.+ inserted · ✓ matched in source
We do not share private content and communications with our service providers to use for their own purposes.+ inserted · ✓ matched in source
Archived version ↗ · 3,011 words changed