As a platform, Snapchat is focused on connecting close friends and family — and that’s never been more important than it is right now. Snap is proud to help Gen Z and millennials stay connected to each other through visual communication as people look for virtual ways to spend time together with their real friends, and is working with publishing partners, the World Health Organization, and other experts to ensure that Snapchatters have access to fact-based reporting and credible updates about COVID-19. As a nationwide movement control order will take effect from 18-31 March 2020 here in Malaysia, it is important for everyone to be equipped with the right information about COVID-19.
Here are some initiatives that Snap has in place:
Limiting the spread of misinformation via Discover
Snap has always taken a proactive approach to ensure Snapchatters have access to credible, fact-based information on its platform, and it is continuing to be especially vigilant about its responsibility to its community at this moment.
Snap’s content platform, Discover, is curated and it works closely with only a select set of partners, including some of the most trusted news organizations around the world. As an example, Snapchatters are encouraged to follow the World Health Organization (WHO) channel for the latest information related to COVID-19. WHO publishes regular updates from their Official Account and Snap has worked with their team to develop custom content to answer questions from the Snapchat community.
A World Health Organisation Filter
In addition to that, Snap has partnered with WHO to release a global FIlter that helps educate Snapchatters on good hygiene practices. The FIlter includes a custom context card – when the recipient of the Snap swipes up on it, they will be taken to a WHO page with more information.
Edu-taining health messages via Bitmoji Stickers
Snap has also released a series of health-themed Bitmoji stickers, which now appear in the Bitmoji keyboard. The fun yet educational Stickers include phrases such as, “Wash your hands”, “Stay home if you’re feeling sick” and “Don’t touch your face” as a fun way to remind Snapchatters how to practice sensible hygiene during this difficult time.
On background, attributable to a Snap spokesperson:
- Snap has always taken a proactive approach to ensuring Snapchatters have access to credible, fact-based information on our platform, and we are continuing to be especially vigilant about our responsibility to our community at this moment.
- Our content platform, Discover, is curated and we work closely with only a select set of partners, including some of the most trusted news organisations around the world.
- Across the board, our guidelines prohibit Snapchatters and our partners from sharing content that deceives or deliberately spreads false information that causes harm, and we do not have an open news feed where inverted publishers or individuals have an opportunity to broadcast misinformation.
- More than two dozen of these partners around the world (such as NBC’s Stay Tuned, Sky News, the Telegraph, the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, CNN, Le Monde, BILD, Sabq) have been producing coverage.
- We’re working closely with the World Health Organization to ensure Snapchatters have all the latest information from the experts themselves. WHO publishes regular updates from their Official Account and we’ve worked with their team to develop custom content to answer questions from the Snapchat community.
- Our own news team is also regularly producing coverage and continuously updating it with tips and information about COVID-19, including a recent Q&A with an expert doctor.
