Snapchat is introducing a new feature called Topic Chats, shifting from its traditional focus on private conversations to embrace public discussions. This feature allows users to chat about current events and various communities, covering topics from Formula 1 to the reality TV show Below Deck.
User profiles will remain private from anyone who is not a friend, which helps prevent unwanted friend requests or direct messages. While a user’s display name will be visible next to their message, others cannot tap through to view their full profile from a Topic Chat. Unlike usernames, display names cannot be used to search for someone on the platform.
To maintain a safe environment, Snapchat will use LLM technology and other safety measures to moderate Topic Chats. All messages must follow Snapchat’s Community Guidelines, and users have the ability to report inappropriate messages. The company will take action against policy violations, which can include user warnings and account blocking.
Users will be able to see which Topic Chats their friends have joined, making it easier to discover shared interests with others. In addition to text messages, Topic Chats will also showcase related Spotlight videos, which are the app’s short-form videos similar to TikTok.
Until now, public conversations on Snapchat were limited to Spotlight comments. The company was inspired to create Topic Chats after observing how its community interacts in public comments, wanting to provide a new way for users to have these discussions. Snapchatters create billions of Snaps daily to share moments with friends and family, and the company found that the community also enjoys commenting publicly about trending topics and events.
Users in Canada, New Zealand, and the United States will start seeing Topic Chats appear across the app in the coming weeks. They will be accessible in Chat shortcuts, in search results, on the Stories page, and on Spotlight videos. If you see a large yellow button on a Story or Spotlight video that says Join the Chat, you can click it to enter a chat room. Messages sent within Topic Chats will be retained for up to five years.