How Teenagers’ Lifeworlds Are Shaped with Snaps, Streaks, and Social Surveillance

With five million active users in the Netherlands, Snapchat is integral to the digital lifeworld of many people, including minors. This paper critically examines Snapchat’s design choices and their implications for underage users. Snap Inc. employs algorithm-driven content curation, live location tracking and gamified interactions to maximise user engagement. While effective at increasing activity, these strategies often prioritise engagement metrics over the well-being of young users who are particularly sensitive to social feedback, validation and rejection.

This paper’s focus on a platform heavily used by minors aligns with the objectives of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to better protect minors in the EU. In addition, Snapchat falls under the Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) category of the DSA. Our paper argues that the responsibility of social media companies should extend beyond profit maximisation to include the well-being of their users, especially minors. In 2024, the European Commission acted against ByteDance (TikTok), Meta (Instagram and Facebook) and X Corp. (X, formerly Twitter) under the DSA for using so-called dark patterns: design techniques that mislead users and prompt certain behaviours. Our analysis indicates that the DSA may not offer sufficient protection at this moment, and it is also due to Snapchat’s lack of age verification measures.

While not all young users are equally affected, raising awareness about these practices is crucial. This paper advocates for comprehensive education programmes to help young people navigate social media responsibly and critically. It recommends enhancing protections for policymakers and urges parents and schools to guide young users proactively. Creating environments where young people can openly discuss their online experiences and learn to manage them effectively is essential for their benefit and well-being.