Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Snapchat Launches Topic Chats for Public, Topic-Based Conversations

The staged rollout introduces moderated rooms with long message retention to balance discovery with privacy.

Overview

  • The feature is rolling out over the coming weeks to users in the United States, Canada and New Zealand.
  • Chats appear in Chat shortcuts, Search and the Stories page, and alongside Spotlight with a prominent “Join the Chat” button that also surfaces related videos.
  • Snap says it will use LLMs and other safety tools to moderate discussions, with reporting available and enforcement that can include warnings and account blocks.
  • Messages show display names only, profiles are not tappable for non-friends, and users can see which rooms their friends have joined to help find shared interests.
  • Posts in these rooms may be retained for up to five years, participants can exit quietly, prior messages remain unless deleted, and supported content includes text, emojis, Bitmoji and stickers.