How Snapchat manipulates its users through notifications

A recent study by Bits of Freedom reveals that Snapchat employs misleading notification practices, potentially violating the European Digital Services Act (DSA). This research serves as a foundation for potential enforcement actions by the Dutch Authority for Consumer and Markets and supports the inclusion of notification regulation in the Digital Fairness Act. The investigation highlights concerns about how digital platforms use notifications to capture and retain user attention. The research focused on Snapchat notifications, analyzing their content and impact over a six-week period using a case study. The study considered various factors, including the frequency of app usage and user interaction with other accounts. The study identified potentially misleading notifications designed to attract attention, especially when users infrequently use the platform. This practice affects Snapchat users, particularly young people, who are potentially vulnerable to such manipulative techniques. The broader implications include the need for stricter regulations on how platforms design and deploy notifications. This also highlights a trend where platforms compete for user attention. Bits of Freedom's research follows previous work on manipulative design in online platforms, including recapture and fake friend notifications. The study's findings aim to inform policy and support enforcement, which could lead to changes in how platforms design their user interfaces to comply with European digital regulations.