Snapchat cracks down on AI-generated videos in Spotlight recommendations

Snapchat has tightened its content moderation rules to discourage low-quality AI-generated videos from gaining traction on its Spotlight platform. Starting immediately, the recommendation algorithm will favor videos made by human creators, moving away from synthetic content that has drawn growing criticism across the tech industry.

What's changing#

The platform announced the shift on Friday, adjusting its recommendation systems to prioritize original human-made work. In a statement, Snapchat emphasized that Spotlight should remain "a place where people can discover authentic creativity from real people," celebrating original perspectives, personal storytelling, and the moments that people choose to create and share themselves.

The company is not, however, banning AI tools outright—creators can still leverage Snapchat's built-in AI features for enhancing or editing their videos. The distinction lies in what the algorithm promotes: full replacement of human creative effort with AI generation will no longer be rewarded.

Broader industry shift#

This move reflects months of mounting frustration with what has become known as "AI slop"—low-quality, often repetitive synthetic content flooding social platforms. Snapchat had already signaled this direction in April, noting that users would encounter less AI-generated material in their feeds.

Snapchat is far from alone. LinkedIn recently launched a reporting button for users to flag posts labeled "seems like AI slop," while Substack introduced tools to help readers spot AI-written newsletters. Meta faced public backlash after an Instagram feature let users alter photos from public accounts using AI, forcing the company to scrap the tool entirely. YouTube, meanwhile, tightened monetization rules to block earnings from generic, repetitive, or template-driven content, plus any AI-generated personas discussing sensitive subjects like health and finance.

Safety for younger users#

Snapchat previously implemented additional safeguards for minors, limiting users aged 13 to 15 in sharing Spotlight posts only with mutual followers—a measure designed to reduce exposure risks like doxxing.