Snapchat has introduced “Topic Chats,” a new feature enabling public conversations, moving beyond its traditional focus on private communication.
The feature allows users to discuss diverse subjects, from Formula 1 to “Below Deck.” Profiles remain private from non-friends, preventing unsolicited friend requests and direct messages. While a user’s display name appears next to their message, it is not clickable to their profile from a Topic Chat.
Snapchat informed TechCrunch that it will deploy LLM technology and unspecified safety measures to moderate Topic Chats, ensuring adherence to its Community Guidelines. Users can report inappropriate messages. The company plans to act against policy violators, which includes warnings and account blocks.
Users can view the Topic Chats their friends have joined, facilitating discovery of shared interests. The chats integrate related Spotlight videos, Snapchat’s short-form video platform.
Previously, public conversations on Snapchat were restricted to Spotlight comments. The company developed Topic Chats in response to community engagement in these public comment sections, seeking to offer additional avenues for such discussions.
Snapchat stated in a blog post, “Snapchatters create billions of Snaps every day, sharing moments with friends and family, and as we’ve expanded services like Spotlight, we’ve also found that the Snapchat community loves commenting publicly about trending topics and events.”
Users in Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S. will see Topic Chats roll out across Snapchat in various locations, including Chat shortcuts, search results, the Stories page, and Spotlight videos. A “Join the Chat” button on a Story or Spotlight will allow access to a chatroom.
Messages posted in Topic Chats will be retained for up to five years.
