Snapchat's Community Guidelines state that the distribution or sale of pornography on Snapchat is not allowed, however I have been concerned about the lack of enforcement of this policy. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) estimates that 88% of self-made sexually explicit images are "stolen" from their original upload location such as laptop webcams or phones. The "snaps" on Snapchat can be recovered or hacked, and the receiver can take a screen shot and share it with others. Many Snapchat images have found their way on "revenge" porn sites. Sexting among those under 18 is lawfully considered self-produced softcore or hardcore child pornography depending on what is depicted, and is therefore liable to criminal or civil prosecution. Even though sexts are typically self-produced, it is important to recognize that tweens and teens are immature and do not yet have fully developed key psychosocial skills, such as the ability to weigh risks. Additionally, individuals are frequently enticed, pressured, and even bullied by their peers to create and send sexts. In many other instances, predatory adults groom minors by seeking sexual images of, and even sexual encounters with, them. In order to better protect a positive and fun experience for your users, and to enforce your existing policy, would you please create a more seamless and easily accessible in-app reporting system for users to report users that are sending sexually explicit images? Please takes significant, effective steps to do the following: 1. Allow users to opt-out of publisher content on Discover, 2. Provide prominent in-app reporting systems for users to report other users that send or promote sexually exploitive content, 3. Make a clear policy that promotion of pornography and prostitution is in violation of Snapchat’s Terms of Use, 4. Enforce this policy by promptly removing accounts that engage in these actions.

Snapchat's Community Guidelines state that the distribution or sale of pornography on Snapchat is not allowed, however I have been concerned about the lack of enforcement of this policy. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) estimates that 88% of self-made sexually explicit images are "stolen" from their original upload location such as laptop webcams or phones. The "snaps" on Snapchat can be recovered or hacked, and the receiver can take a screen shot and share it with others. Many Snapchat images have found their way on "revenge" porn sites. Sexting among those under 18 is lawfully considered self-produced softcore or hardcore child pornography depending on what is depicted, and is therefore liable to criminal or civil prosecution. Even though sexts are typically self-produced, it is important to recognize that tweens and teens are immature and do not yet have fully developed key psychosocial skills, such as the ability to weigh risks. Additionally, individuals are frequently enticed, pressured, and even bullied by their peers to create and send sexts. In many other instances, predatory adults groom minors by seeking sexual images of, and even sexual encounters with, them. In order to better protect a positive and fun experience for your users, and to enforce your existing policy, would you please create a more seamless and easily accessible in-app reporting system for users to report users that are sending sexually explicit images? We are also asking you to stop promoting sexually explicit material to minors and to filter the Discover stories, and allow users to remove offensive Discover story platforms. While you've created the ability for Discover publishers to filter some content based on age we ask that you mandate any sexual material to be filtered for minors under 18, and for adults to have the ability to opt-out of sexually graphic stories.

In order to better protect a positive and fun experience for your users, and to enforce your existing policy, would you please create a more seamless and easily accessible in-app reporting system for users to report users that are sending sexually explicit images? Snapchat rates itself as appropriate for ages 12+ for infrequent mild sexual content and nudity, and for infrequent mild mature suggestive themes. But, I’m not sure if Snapchat knows the meaning of the words “infrequent” and “mild.” Snapchat’s “Discover” includes articles and content from top media sources adapted to Snapchat’s platform which appear as icons that can be selected from the top of Snapchat’s Stories page. Some of the first companies whose content shows up in Discover include Cosmopolitan, MTV, Buzzfeed, and Vice. Their Discover stories frequently exhibit sexual content. In just one day, Cosmo’s Snapchat Discover included “5 Vagina Mistakes Women Make in the Sumer,” “Would you participate in the ‘Panty Challenge?’” “12 Things Women Wish Guys Knew About Oral Sex,” and “Inside a Hamptons Sex Party for the Elite.” I wouldn’t call 4 sex-centered stories out of the 12 posted that day infrequent. And I wouldn’t call a detailed description of oral sex “mild sexual content.” In addition, at the end of Cosmo’s story it blatantly proves the explicit and frequent nature of the content when it says, “Swipe up for daily sex tips, horoscopes, and more.” We are also asking you to stop promoting sexually explicit material to minors and to filter the Discover stories, and allow users to remove offensive Discover story platforms. While you've created the ability for Discover publishers to filter some content based on age we ask that you mandate any sexual material to be filtered for minors under 18, and for adults to have the ability to opt-out of sexually graphic stories