Turn this off in SnapChat!

Hey everyone! Like many of you, I've been a bit on edge recently with all the talk about AI and privacy, especially when it comes to our personal photos and content online. It turns out Snapchat has a setting that many of us might not even know about, which allows their Generative AI to use our public content. Whether you're actively using their AI bot or not, this is definitely something worth checking out. So, what exactly does 'allow use of public content' mean? From what I understand, it means that any snaps or content you've made public could potentially be used to train Snapchat's AI models or even generate new content. This felt a little unsettling to me because I want to have control over what happens to my images. While the initial article gives us direct steps to turn this specific setting off, I started thinking about the broader picture of privacy on Snapchat and what else we can do to protect ourselves. Beyond just the Generative AI settings, it's a good time to revisit your overall privacy controls. For instance, think about your 'My Story' settings. Do you have it set to 'Friends Only' or 'Public'? If it's public, that content is widely accessible, and now, potentially, accessible for AI training unless you toggle off the Generative AI setting. The same goes for anything you might submit to 'Spotlight'. While it's cool to get exposure, remember that content is designed to be seen by millions of Snapchatters, and therefore, considered public. It’s also important to periodically check your 'Public Profile' settings under 'My Account'. This area controls how visible your profile is to people beyond your immediate friends. Taking a few moments to review these settings can make a big difference in how much of your digital life is truly public. I always recommend going through all your privacy 'settings' every few months, not just on Snapchat but on all social media platforms. It's like a digital spring cleaning! I’ve personally been making an effort to be more mindful about what I share publicly and who I share it with. For me, it’s about peace of mind. Knowing that I’ve taken the steps to manage my 'Generative AI settings' and other privacy controls helps me feel more secure. So, I encourage all of you to take a moment, head into your Snapchat 'settings', and make sure everything aligns with your comfort level. Your privacy is in your hands!