Snapchat Introduces ‘Topic Chats’ For Public Interactions

Snapchat is expanding its focus from private to public talks with the official launch and release of a new “Topic Chats” feature. The social network states that the feature allows users to discuss and chat current events about hot topics, events, and connect over shared interests in communities, spanning topics like Formula 1 and the reality show “Below Deck.” This represents a substantial departure from the platform’s previous focus on private, ephemeral messaging.

Snapchat states that profiles will remain private to anyone you are not friends with, which will help eliminate unwanted friend requests or direct messages. While a user’s display name will be visible next to their post, others will not be able to access their profile from a Topic Chat, the business informed a news agency via email. Unlike usernames, display names cannot be used to find someone.

Snapchat informed the news outlet that it will manage Topic Chats with LLM technology and other safety measures to ensure their safety and appropriateness. Furthermore, communications must follow Snapchat’s Community Guidelines, and users may report inappropriate messages. According to the company, those users who breach its standards may face consequences, including warnings and account blocking.

Users will be able to see which Topic Chats their friends have joined, which the business claims would make it simpler to connect with others.

Topic Chats will display related Spotlight videos, the app’s TikTok-style short-form videos, in addition to messages. 

With the new layer of discovery, Topic Chats will surface across the app in multiple places, which will include chat shortcuts, search, the Stories page and spotlight videos. 

If a Story or Spotlight clip has a big yellow “Join the Chat” icon, tap it to instantly enter a themed chatroom. Snapchat will also display you which Topic Chats your friends have joined, which is a subtle social cue aimed to help users discover common interests.

Topic Chats will recommend related Spotlight videos in addition to text chats, bringing together chat, discovery, and short-form entertainment.

Until today, the only venue for public Snapchat interactions was in the Spotlight comments. Snapchat claims it was inspired to develop Topic Chats after observing how its community participates in public comments, and it wanted to provide users with a new platform to have these conversations.

In a blog post, the company stated, “Snapchatters share billions of Snaps daily with friends and family, and as we’ve grown features like Spotlight, we’ve seen that the Snapchat community also enjoys publicly commenting on trending events and topics.”

Topic Chats will appear in Chat shortcuts, search, the Stories page, and Spotlight videos across Snapchat in the coming weeks for users in Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. To enter a chatroom, click on the large yellow button labelled “Join the Chat” on a Story or Spotlight.

Snapchat claims messages sent through Topic Chats will be saved for up to five years.

This new feature was inspired by the natural public conversations Snapchat noticed in the comments of its Spotlight (TikTok-style short video) section and is designed to offer a dedicated space for community discussions within the app.