Snapchat is enhancing its Family Center parental controls to provide more context when teens add new friends. The update surfaces details like shared mutual friends, saved contact info, or common in-app communities, aiming to help parents assess whether a new connection is someone their child knows in real life.

This move responds to longstanding criticism that Snapchat makes it too easy for teenagers to talk to strangers. The platform has faced safety-related lawsuits, including an ongoing case from New Mexico's Attorney General. Snap frames these new "trust signals" as a way to give parents greater confidence in their teen's connections.

Beyond friend details, the update adds granular stats on how teens spend time within the app, breaking down usage between messaging, camera, map, and short-form video features. While parents ultimately set limits, this data arrives amid growing debate over banning teens from social media entirely, offering families more tools for understanding digital habits.