New Delhi: Snapchat is trying something new. The app, which has always been known for private chats and disappearing snaps, is now moving into more open, public conversations. It has launched a new feature called “Topic Chats.” These are public chatrooms where people can talk about specific subjects such as live events, sports, culture, movies, or even reality shows.
Until now, Snapchat mostly focused on close-friend interactions. It was never really a place for big public discussions like Twitter or Reddit. But as other platforms push trend-based chatrooms and community conversations, Snapchat doesn’t want to be left behind. Topic Chats are basically its way of joining that trend.
Snapchat keeps identities hidden in new public chat feature
Privacy has always been a big concern for the platform. Snapchat says that even though these chats are public, users’ personal information will still stay protected. Only the display name will be shown in the chat. People who are not on your friend list cannot open your full profile, cannot see your username, and cannot search for you. So, on paper, it looks like you can join public chats without exposing your identity too much.
Still, Snapchat will monitor these chats. The company says every message has to follow its Community Guidelines. It also says it will use large language models (LLMs) and other safety tools to check harmful messages, filter abuse, and keep the chats clean. Basically, it wants these public discussions to stay controlled and safe.
How to join topic chat
To join a Topic Chat, you just need to tap the big yellow “Join the conversation” button. It will appear on Stories and Spotlight videos linked to that topic. If you are already in a group, you can also enter the chat directly from your Snapchat Chat page.
You will still be able to see which of your Snapchat friends are in the chat, but people who are not your friends will not be able to view your full profile. Everything in the chat will be checked by an LLM to make sure it follows Snapchat’s rules. The feature will first launch for users in Canada, New Zealand, and the US.