How Snapchat manipulates its users through notifications

A recent investigation into Snapchat's notification practices has revealed the use of potentially misleading tactics, a violation of the European Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA prohibits deceptive and manipulative design on online platforms. This research may serve as a basis for regulatory actions by the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets. The study supports the recommendation to include regulations on attention-grabbing notifications in the Digital Fairness Act. The study found that Snapchat's notifications can be designed to pique user curiosity, but may not deliver on their initial promise. The notifications may be intended to draw attention, particularly during periods of low platform usage. The research monitored Snapchat's notifications for six weeks, applying different conditions based on app usage and account following. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand users' experiences, needs, behavior, and expectations regarding notifications. These findings highlight a broader trend where platforms prioritize attention-grabbing notifications over informative ones. This shift is driven by the platforms' financial interests in keeping users engaged to maximize ad revenue. This is concerning, especially for young users who are more vulnerable to these manipulative practices. Platforms are in constant competition for user attention, which can lead to overstimulation and excessive screen time. This investigation builds upon previous research into manipulative design on online platforms, which identified practices like "recapture notifications" and "fake friend notifications." The results of this study aim to inform potential enforcement actions and provide clear policy recommendations. The research used a case study and qualitative research methods to study the impact of these practices.