iWorld
Snapchat announces new safety features designed to reinforce real friend connections
Mumbai: With a focus on fostering a safe and positive in-app experience, Snapchat has introduced a suite of new safety features all designed to strengthen and reinforce the real friend relationships that make Snapchat so unique. These new features aim to further safeguard teens and the broader community from online harms.
To kick off an essential dialogue on teen online safety, Snapchat hosted a panel discussion featuring influential parents Tisca Chopra and Maria Goretti, actor and Snap Star Nitanshi Goel, Aparajita Bharti, co-founder of Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) and Uthara Ganesh, head of public policy at Snap. The panel explored critical topics such as the importance of digital literacy, maximizing the use of available online resources, and maintaining open dialogues with teenagers at home.
The evening concluded with the introduction of Snapchat’s new suite of tools, including 1) improved blocking capabilities 2) simplified location-sharing 3) enhanced friending protections and 4) expanded in-chat warnings. These expanded products build on Snapchat’s ongoing work to make it difficult for strangers to contact people.
Snap Inc. head of public policy-South Asia Uthara Ganesh added, “Snapchat has always been a unique space where you can truly be yourself and connect with your real friends. Young people across India love spending time on our platform, and we are dedicated to making it a safe and positive place for everyone, especially teens. Our newest safety features are all about supporting genuine friendships, empowering teens to make smart choices, and ensuring that every Snapchatter feels secure and confident while using our app.”
Blocking improvements
The platform has long offered tools for Snapchatters to easily block someone if they no longer wish to be in touch with them. Sometimes, bad actors create new accounts and continue to contact people who have blocked them. To prevent bullying and potential repeat harassment, we’re introducing improvements to our blocking tools: blocking a user will also now block new friend requests sent from other accounts created on the same device, to further limit outreach from other existing or new accounts created by the blocked account.
Simplified location-sharing and additional reminders
Snapchatters – including teens – are sent regular reminders to check their account security and privacy settings, and Snapchatters can only share their location with people they are friends with. Now we’re introducing more frequent reminders to make sure that Snapchatters are always up to date on which friends they’re sharing their location with on the Snap Map. We’re also introducing simplified location-sharing, making it faster and easier for Snapchatters to customize which of their friends can see their location.
Enhanced friending protections
Previously Snapchat had announced teens will not be suggested in Quick Add or Search unless they have multiple mutual connections in common with the other person. The platform is now adding new friending safeguards that make it much harder for strangers to find and add teens. We will prevent delivery of a friend request altogether when teens send or receive a friend request from someone they don’t have mutual friends with, and that person also has a history of accessing Snapchat in locations often associated with scamming activity. This applies regardless of whether the friend request was sent out by the teen, or sent to the teen from the suspected bad actor.
This feature is currently available in a select few countries and will be introduced in a more localized form in India soon.
Expanded in-app warnings
Snapchat has introduced a pop-up warning when a teen receives a message from someone they don’t already share mutual friends with or have in their contacts. The message informs teens of the potential risk so they can carefully consider if they want to be in contact, and reminds them to only connect with people they trust.
Now the platform is expanding these in-app warnings to incorporate new and advanced signals. Teens will now see a warning message if they receive a chat from someone who has been blocked or reported by others, or is from a region where the teen’s network isn’t typically located – signs that the person may be a scammer. This feature will be made available in the US, UK, CA, AU, NZ, Nordics, and parts of Europe.
Further commenting on Snapchat’s safety features, Tisca Chopra, actor, author & celebrity mom, said, “With teenagers spending so much time online, ensuring a safe digital environment is crucial today. I make it a point to stay informed about my daughter’s digital activities without being too intrusive. I appreciate Snapchat’s focus on safety through its platform design, demonstrating a commitment to protecting young users. By fostering a secure space, Snapchat helps our teenagers interact with confidence and peace of mind. This thoughtful approach also encourages open conversations between parents and their teenagers about responsible digital behaviour, essential for navigating the digital landscape safely.”
Maria Goretti, actor, TV host & celebrity mom, added, “Our teens are at a sensitive age, and it’s important for us as parents to understand their digital lives while ensuring they know their boundaries. My teenagers use Snapchat regularly, and it’s comforting to know they are in a safe environment. Snapchat’s proactive stance on user safety reassures me that my teens can connect with their real friends in a positive space. Their genuine commitment to protecting users is something every parent can appreciate.”
These new tools build on the platform’s ongoing commitment to help Snapchatters communicate with their close friends in an environment that prioritizes their safety, privacy, and well-being.
iWorld
Prime Video bets big on India with global originals, films and franchise expansion
Execs highlight scale, travelability and new IP bets as India anchors global strategy
MUMBAI: At Prime Video Presents 2026, the message was clear and confident. India is not just part of the plan, it is central to it.
In a lively fireside chat hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, Kelly Day, vice president of prime video and amazon mgm studios international, Nicole Clemens, vice president of international originals, and Gaurav Gandhi, vice president for Apac and Anz, laid out an ambitious roadmap. Think bigger stories, wider reach and a sharper focus on building franchises that travel.
Kelly Day, a regular visitor to India, set the tone early. Calling the country “one of the most important markets globally”, she pointed to the sheer scale and diversity of audiences as a driving force behind Prime Video’s growth. Indian Originals, she said, are not just local hits but global engines powering subscriptions and engagement.
That global appeal is already visible. According to Clemens, around 25 percent of viewership for Indian content now comes from outside the country. Shows rooted deeply in local culture are finding fans worldwide, proving that specificity, when paired with universal themes, travels well. From gritty dramas to sharp thrillers, Indian storytelling is increasingly crossing borders with ease.
Clemens, who joined recently to lead international originals, was particularly upbeat about India’s creative range. She highlighted a growing slate of over 100 shows in development and production, with more than 60 percent returning for multiple seasons. For her, the formula is simple. Authentic stories, told well, resonate everywhere.
Adding to the buzz, she teased new and returning titles, alongside a fresh superhero universe, the Kalyug Warriors. It signals a push into new genres while doubling down on familiar fan favourites.
If content is king, distribution is the clever courtier. Day outlined Prime Video’s layered business model in India, which blends subscription, rentals, add on channels and ad supported viewing through Amazon MX Player. The idea is straightforward. Give viewers choice, whether they want premium, free or pay per view.
India, she noted, has also become a testing ground for innovation. Tiered pricing, mobile only plans and language diversity have all been sharpened here before being exported to other markets. In many ways, the India playbook is now influencing global strategy.
For Gaurav Gandhi, the next chapter is about scale with intent. He outlined four priorities. Making Prime Video more accessible, pushing Indian content globally, building stronger franchises and supercharging the films business.
On films, the platform is moving beyond licensing into co productions and now theatrical releases in partnership with amazon mgm studios. These films will eventually stream on Prime Video, creating a full circle from cinema halls to living rooms across 240 countries.
Franchise building remains another key pillar. With hits like The Family Man, Mirzapur and Panchayat already enjoying multi season success, the focus is now on creating the next wave of enduring IP. Newer titles are already lining up for second seasons, signalling a steady pipeline.
What stood out through the conversation was a shared belief. Streaming in India is still in its early innings, and the runway is long. With a mix of local flavour and global ambition, Prime Video is betting that stories from India will not just stay at home, but travel far and wide.
Or as the executives seemed to suggest, the world is watching and India has plenty more to show.
