CEO Evan Spiegel disclosed the move in a memo to staff and a regulatory filing, saying the decision reflects the company’s push to reposition itself amid growing competition in social media and digital advertising.

Spiegel explained that advances in artificial intelligence are enabling teams to streamline operations.

“Rapid advancements in AI enable our teams to reduce repetitive work, increase velocity, and better support our community, partners, and advertisers,” he said.

The restructuring will also shut down more than 300 open roles, with Snap projecting annual cost savings of over $500 million by the second half of 2026.

Snap described the cuts as a critical turning point, noting it is “squeezed between giants with enormous resources and nimble startups moving fast.”

The company said the changes are part of a shift toward profitable growth.

As of December 2025, Snap employed about 5,261 full-time staff, making this one of its largest workforce reductions in recent years.

Affected U.S. employees will receive severance packages including four months’ pay, healthcare coverage, equity vesting, and transition support.

The layoffs place Snap among several tech giants cutting jobs in 2026. Amazon has already laid off 16,000 workers, Meta is planning cuts of up to 20% of its workforce, and Oracle is restructuring with tens of thousands of roles at risk, all tied to heavy investments in AI and automation.

Snap said the restructuring is designed to accelerate its path to net-income profitability, with resources reallocated toward high-priority initiatives like Snapchat+, advertising performance, and infrastructure efficiency.

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The new tools expand Snapchat’s Family Center feature, allowing parents and guardians to view how much time their teens spend on the app, including a breakdown of activity across features such as messaging, camera use, Snap Map, and content viewing on Stories and Spotlight.

Parents can now see the average amount of time their teen spends on Snapchat each day over the previous week. The update also provides additional context about new friends added by teens, including whether they share mutual friends, are saved as contacts, or belong to the same communities.

Snap said the new indicators are designed to help parents better understand their teens’ connections and encourage informed conversations about online interactions. Family Center, first launched in 2022, already allowed parents to view a list of their teen’s friends and recent interactions, set time limits, and restrict access to Snapchat’s AI chatbot.

The update follows Snap’s recent settlement of a lawsuit filed by a 19-year-old who accused the company of designing addictive features that harmed users’ mental health. Similar cases involving Meta, TikTok, and YouTube are still ongoing, with jury selection expected to begin soon.

Snap remains a defendant in other lawsuits related to social media addiction. The company has previously said internal documents cited in court filings were taken out of context.

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By Shuaib S. Agaka

When the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, speaks about social media, his primary concern isn’t data privacy or investment—it’s morality.

In a report by Tech Digest, the country’s top technology regulator was quoted as saying: “We want to see people using it to promote digital safety, to promote content that will build a stronger nation.” He lamented that most Nigerians now use social media purely for entertainment. His words strike at the heart of a growing national crisis: as we become one of the world’s largest social media markets, our moral compass and cultural identity are being shaped by algorithms that reward vanity, vulgarity, and viral shock value.

Every week, a new TikTok challenge sweeps through youth circles. Some are humorous and harmless, but many are explicit or indecent. What begins as a trend quickly becomes a norm, quietly redefining what society deems acceptable or admirable. Behind the filters and hashtags lies a deeper moral dilemma: the pursuit of virality has eclipsed the pursuit of virtue. Today’s digital platforms—TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter)—are not just tools of communication; they are powerful cultural engines, shaping beliefs faster than any classroom, home, or religious pulpit.

Social media was once hailed as a tool for empowerment, creativity, and freedom of expression. But beneath that promise lies a powerful machine—the algorithm—designed to keep users scrolling endlessly. This invisible engine prioritizes engagement over enlightenment, amplifying whatever provokes the strongest emotions: outrage, envy, or desire. On these platforms, shock value has become the new currency. The more provocative the post, the more visibility it earns.

For Nigeria’s estimated 37 million TikTok users, this digital architecture has created a subtle but dangerous trap. Indecent videos or content that ridicules cultural values often go viral within hours, while educational or inspirational clips remain buried. The algorithm, indifferent to morality, amplifies anything that holds attention longest—even if it corrodes social values in the process. Despite TikTok’s community guidelines, the platform is flooded with content that normalizes profanity, sexualization, and cultural disrespect.

TikTok’s own transparency report revealed that over 7.5 million Nigerian videos were removed in the first half of this year—nearly double the figure from the previous year. While this suggests some compliance with NITDA’s Code of Practice, it also exposes the depth of the problem. For every video taken down, thousands more slip through, quietly shaping social behaviour and numbing moral sensibilities. In a digital economy where engagement equals success, creators are nudged toward extremes, sacrificing ethics for exposure. The result is a generation conditioned to equate visibility with value and applause with approval—no matter the moral cost.

At the core of this dilemma is a cultural clash between globalized digital norms and Nigeria’s long-standing moral traditions. Social media platforms operate on policies designed with Western sensibilities in mind, often disconnected from our local realities. What may pass as creative expression in New York or Berlin can easily be perceived as indecent or offensive in Ilorin or Kano. This global-local tension has turned Nigeria’s digital space into a battleground of values.

From sexually suggestive dance challenges to prank videos glorifying deception, the line between entertainment and immorality continues to blur. Parents, teachers, and religious leaders—once moral anchors—now struggle to compete with algorithms that reward shock over substance. Never before has indecency been so accessible, appearing uninvited in our feeds. Some entertainers even release explicit content deliberately to attract attention and promote their brands. This new normal has stripped modesty of its value, turning immorality into a marketing strategy.

Cultural and religious leaders have sounded the alarm over this moral drift. Many lament how virtues such as humility, discipline, and community spirit are being replaced by an obsession with online fame. Success is increasingly measured not by integrity, but by the number of followers one commands. This shift is not just behavioural—it is psychological, disconnecting the youth from the moral and cultural roots that once defined Nigerian society.

The erosion of values through globalized content also signals a subtler form of cultural colonization. While Nigeria may be politically independent, our digital lives are shaped by algorithms built abroad—engines that know nothing of our moral codes. These algorithms decide what trends, what sells, and what we see. Countries like China have taken drastic measures, restricting access to foreign platforms to protect their digital culture and moral fabric.

Nigeria’s response has been regulatory, a form of digital self-defense aimed at reclaiming moral sovereignty online. Through NITDA, the government introduced the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms, requiring global tech firms like Meta, TikTok, and X to comply with local laws, remove harmful content within 24 hours, and align operations with national values. Critics argue the Code lacks the bite of the European Union’s Digital Services Act, but it nonetheless represents a step toward digital independence. Enforcement, however, remains a challenge in an ecosystem where global tech giants wield disproportionate power.

Beyond regulation, the deeper challenge is moral and educational. Nigeria’s youth—its largest demographic—are being raised in digital spaces where moral accountability is optional and attention is everything. Many young people now define identity through likes, shares, and followers rather than virtue, empathy, or contribution. The metrics of digital validation have replaced the moral metrics of good character.

Yet, hope remains. We can reclaim our digital culture through collective effort. Strengthening digital literacy programs in schools, promoting content that reflects our values, and supporting creators who produce educational or morally conscious material can begin to shift the balance. NITDA’s framework should be complemented by partnerships with community and religious institutions, helping citizens understand both the power and peril of online behaviour.

If platforms refuse to align with Nigeria’s laws, regulators must consider stronger partnerships with law enforcement to hold content creators accountable for the deliberate spread of harmful material. The aim is not to censor creativity but to ensure that freedom does not become a license for moral decay.

Ultimately, Nigeria must redefine its digital future around responsibility, not recklessness. The goal is to build a social media culture that inspires rather than corrupts, that amplifies intellect rather than indecency. The internet should be a marketplace of ideas—not a theatre of moral erosion.

If we succeed, the next generation will inherit not just faster internet, but a cleaner, more dignified digital environment—one where technology uplifts rather than undermines the values that bind us as a people.

Shuaib S. Agaka is a Tech Journalist and Digital Policy Analyst based in Kano.

Sshuaib328@gmail.com

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In a statement on Friday, the Commission said it has requested detailed information from the companies on their age verification systems and measures used to prevent minors from accessing illegal products, such as drugs and vapes, or harmful content, including material promoting eating disorders.

“Today, alongside national authorities in the member states, we are assessing whether the measures taken so far by the platforms are indeed protecting children,” said EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen.

The move signals Brussels’ continued push to ensure that major tech companies comply with the DSA, a landmark EU law that requires online platforms to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content.

Responding to the Commission’s request, a Google spokesperson said the company has already implemented systems to ensure age-appropriate experiences across its platforms, with “robust” parental controls in place.

“We keep expanding these efforts and continue to engage with the Commission on this critical area,” the spokesperson added.

The Commission’s scrutiny comes amid rising concerns over the impact of social media and digital platforms on young people’s mental health and exposure to illegal content online.

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The feature, available to Snapchat+ Platinum ($15.99/month) and Lens+ ($8.99/month) subscribers, enables users to generate Snaps from scratch, edit existing ones, and recreate content using either custom or pre-loaded prompts.

According to Snap, Imagine Lens is its first open-prompt image generation Lens, setting it apart from earlier AI-based filters. Users can type prompts such as “turn me into an alien” or “make this person skydive” and instantly share results with friends or post them on their Stories.

The launch builds on Snap’s recent investments in AI and AR technologies. Earlier this year, the company released an AI-powered Lens Studio app to simplify AR Lens creation and rolled out its first video generative AI Lenses.

Snap says the new tool combines its own in-house AI models with leading industry systems to deliver results optimized for mobile.

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AR Race: Snapchat and Meta’s Battle for the Future of AI

TECH DIGEST- Snapchat and Meta compete to redefine how we interact with technology. Both companies have recently unveiled their latest augmented reality (AR) glasses, showcasing their ambitious plans to create wearable devices that could replace smartphones.

Snap’s Spectacles 5, released in September, offers developers a platform to create immersive AR experiences. However, the device comes with a hefty price tag of $99 per month for a year, limiting its accessibility to a select group of developers.

Meta, on the other hand, has unveiled its Orion AR glasses, a lightweight prototype capable of overlaying digital content on the real world. The device’s unique feature is its ability to analyse user behavior and offer personalised recommendations using AI. Additionally, Orion can be controlled not only with hand gestures but also through subtle body movements and even brain signals.

While both companies are making significant strides in AR technology, the future of wearable devices remains uncertain. The success of these new glasses will depend on factors such as affordability, user experience, and the availability of compelling AR applications. As the AR race heats up, it will be interesting to see which company emerges as the leader in this groundbreaking technology.

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Snap, the creator of Snapchat, is set to reduce its workforce by 10%, impacting over 500 employees. This move is aimed at supporting the company’s future growth.

The restructuring is expected to incur pre-tax charges between $55 million to $75 million, primarily for severance and related costs.

Snap emphasized the need to streamline its team, reduce hierarchy, and foster in-person collaboration. This workforce reduction marks Snap’s second wave of layoffs within months, following a smaller cut in late 2023 focusing on the product team. The company’s previous restructuring in 2022 resulted in a 20% staff reduction.

Snap is facing challenges in its hardware investments, with the Pixy drone recently discontinued and recalled due to a fire risk.

Despite a positive stock jump after Q3 earnings in October, where Snap surpassed revenue and user growth estimates, the company’s net loss widened by 2% year-over-year to $368 million.

Analysts have expressed concerns about Snap’s ability to navigate the volatile ad market, with expectations of a 3.3% year-over-year ad revenue decline in 2023.

Investors closely await Snap’s Q4 2023 earnings report, set to be released after the market’s close on February 6. The layoffs began on Friday, with more expected this week, as Snap reorganizes to adapt to market dynamics and improve operational efficiency.

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TECHDIGEST– Snapchat is launching new tools, including an age filter and insights for parents, to improve its AI chatbot.

Days after Snapchat launched its GPT-powered chatbot for Snapchat+ subscribers, a Washington Post report highlighted that the bot was responding in an unsafe and inappropriate manner.

Snap said it learned that people were trying to “trick the chatbot into providing responses that do not conform to our guidelines,” and the new tools are meant to keep the AI’s responses in check.

READALSO: NCC Recommends Two-Factor Authentication to Secure WhatsApp 

In the coming weeks, Snap also plans to provide more insights to parents or guardians about children’s interactions with the chatbot in its Family Center, launched last August. The new feature will tell parents or guardians how their kids are communicating with the chatbot and the frequency of those interactions. Both the guardian and teens need to opt-in to using Family Center to use these parental control features.

SOURCE: TECHCRUNCH

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TECHDIGEST – Snapchat, the popular photo and messaging app, said it is set to launch Snapchat for the Web, allowing users to send messages and make video calls to their contacts from their computers. This is coming after operating for over 10 years as a mobile-only service.

The new desktop version of Snapchat will at first only be available to Australian and New Zealand users, in addition to Snapchat+ subscribers in the U.S., U.K., and Canada.

Snap launched Snapchat+ in June, allowing users to pay $3.99 a month for more advanced features, like changing the style of their app icon and seeing who’s viewed their content.

The web offering will be a more stripped-down version of the mobile app, primarily focusing on its messaging feature instead of its Stories feature. Like the core Snap app, messages will disappear after 24 hours, and any Snaps users watch from their desktop computers will delete right after viewing.

Snap says it will eventually bring more features of the app to the desktop version, including the ability for users to liven up their video calls with the use of Lenses. Currently, people will have to access Snapchat for Web via the Chrome browser, but the company said that it would soon support other browsers and could release a desktop app in the future.

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