Snapchat is expanding its Family Center with new tools that give parents and caregivers greater visibility into how teens use the app while preserving teen privacy.
The update builds on Family Center’s 2022 launch, which introduced parental controls and safety-focused defaults.
Parents can now view how much time their teen spends on Snapchat on average each day over the past week. The breakdown shows how time is distributed across features like chatting with friends, using the camera, exploring Snap Map, or watching content on Spotlight and Stories.
Snapchat says this data is meant to encourage more informed conversations about screen time and digital habits.
Family Center is also adding more context around new friend connections.
In addition to seeing newly added friends, parents can now understand how their teen may know someone, such as shared mutual friends, contact list matches, or shared communities, helping caregivers better assess unfamiliar connections.
Snapchat has also introduced new educational resources inside Family Center.
A step-by-step video walkthrough helps parents get started, and the platform has embedded its digital safety program, The Keys: A Guide to Digital Safety, directly into the hub to make learning and discussion easier for families.
Why This Matters Today
As concerns around teen screen time and online safety grow, platforms are under increasing pressure to provide transparency without overstepping privacy boundaries.
Snapchat’s approach focuses on visibility and context rather than content monitoring, aiming to mirror real-world parenting dynamics.
By combining usage insights, trust signals around friendships, and built-in educational tools, Snapchat positions Family Center as a centralized control panel for parents who want to stay informed and involved, without reading private messages.
The update reflects a broader shift across social platforms toward family-oriented safety design, especially as AI features and discovery tools become more prominent in teen digital experiences.
Our Key Takeaways:
- Parents can now see how much time teens spend on Snapchat and where it’s spent.
- New friend insights add context like mutual connections and shared communities.
- Family Center now includes embedded safety education and onboarding resources.
You may also want to check out some of our other tech news updates.
Wanna know what’s trending online every day? Subscribe to Vavoza Insider to access the latest business and marketing insights, news, and trends daily with unmatched speed and conciseness. 🗞️
