The influence of Snapchat’s gamification features on young people

A recent research paper by Bits of Freedom sheds light on the significant impact of gamification features within Snapchat on young users. The study reveals that elements such as Snapstreaks, Friend Emojis, Snapscores, and in-chat games are contributing to increased screen time and feelings of pressure among teenagers. This research underscores the critical need for enhanced user autonomy on digital platforms, particularly for younger demographics who are more susceptible to these attention-capturing mechanisms. The investigation specifically examined features designed to reward continuous interaction with the app, such as maintaining daily Snapstreaks or accumulating a Snapscore through app activity. These gamified elements, previously identified in other research for their role in prolonging user engagement and potentially leading to regret or loss of time awareness, were found to exert a similar influence on Snapchat's young user base. The findings suggest these features can inadvertently facilitate excessive smartphone use. The implications of this research are far-reaching, directly impacting young people's digital well-being and their ability to control their online experiences. The findings aim to inform policy makers, particularly concerning upcoming European regulations like the Digital Fairness Act, which addresses addictive elements in social media. The advocacy is for greater user choice, allowing individuals to opt out of features that exploit attention and undermine autonomy.