Snapchat drops rewards for fully AI-made Spotlight videos
▼ Summary
– Snapchat will stop rewarding fully AI-generated videos in its Spotlight recommendations, prioritizing content created by real people.
– Creators can still use Snapchat’s AI tools to enhance or edit their content, as the platform is not completely rejecting AI.
– The update is part of Snapchat’s broader effort to shift focus back to original posts, following an April announcement that users would see less AI-generated content.
– Other platforms are also addressing AI slop: LinkedIn added a “seems like AI slop” reporting button, Substack introduced AI-detection tools, and Meta removed an Instagram AI feature after backlash.
– YouTube tightened monetization rules against inauthentic content, and Snapchat separately added content controls for users aged 13 to 15 to prevent doxxing.
Snapchat has become the latest platform to push back against the rising tide of AI-generated content, announcing that it will no longer reward fully AI-made videos on its Spotlight feed. The move is designed to elevate and prioritize authentic, human-created material across the social network.
The company confirmed the policy shift on Friday, explaining that its recommendation algorithms will now be tuned to ensure only videos crafted by real people are considered for Spotlight distribution. In a blog post, Snapchat said it wants Spotlight to “remain a place where people can discover authentic creativity from real people,” adding that there is “enduring value in rewarding original perspectives, personal storytelling, and the moments that people choose to create and share themselves.”
That said, the platform isn’t turning its back on artificial intelligence entirely. Snapchat clarified that creators are still welcome to use its suite of AI-powered creative tools for editing and enhancing their own footage, just not for generating entire videos from scratch.
The announcement is part of a broader effort by Snapchat to refine Spotlight and refocus the feature on genuine user expression. Back in April, the company signaled its intention to reduce the visibility of AI-generated posts, and this latest change builds on that direction.
As public frustration with low-quality AI content, often referred to as “AI slop,” continues to build, tech companies across the industry are rethinking how their algorithms handle machine-made material. Some are tweaking recommendation systems, others are adding reporting tools, and a few are pulling AI features altogether.
LinkedIn, for instance, recently rolled out a button that lets users flag posts with a label reading “seems like AI slop.” Substack has also introduced functionality designed to help readers identify newsletters that were written by AI rather than humans.
Earlier this month, Meta found itself in hot water over an Instagram feature that let users apply AI modifications to photos pulled from public accounts. The backlash was swift and severe, prompting the company to remove the feature entirely.
YouTube is also tightening its rules around inauthentic AI content. The video platform has updated its monetization policies to bar “inauthentic content” from earning revenue, which includes generic, repetitive, or template-based videos, as well as content that features AI personas discussing sensitive subjects like health and finance.
In a separate development last month, Snapchat introduced new safeguards aimed at younger users. Teens aged 13 to 15 can now only share Spotlight posts with people they follow back, a measure intended to reduce the risk of doxxing and other privacy concerns.
(Source: TechCrunch)
