Provision record
Snapchat · Snapchat Terms of Service · View original document ↗

Personalized Advertising and Recommendations

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Document Record

What it is

The agreement establishes that personalized content recommendations and advertising based on inferred user interests are a condition of the contract with Snap, with an opt-down (rather than opt-out) option described as receiving less personalization.

This analysis describes what Snapchat's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

The framing of personalization as a contractual necessity and condition of the agreement, rather than solely a consent-based processing activity, has implications for how users in jurisdictions with consent-based data processing requirements, such as the GDPR applicable to Snap Group Limited users, may exercise data subject rights. For U.S. users under this Snap Inc. agreement, the provision discloses that personalized advertising is integral to the service and references the Privacy Policy for data handling details.

Interpretive note: Whether the contractual necessity framing of personalization satisfies CCPA opt-out requirements or constitutes service denial for exercising privacy rights depends on regulatory interpretation and enforcement posture.

Recent Activity

This document changed recently

Medium Aug 7, 2026

The updated terms state that Snapchat may now require age verification before you use the Services, expanding on prior language that only referenced minimum age requirements. The terms also revise content moderation procedures, stating that Snap's decision to restrict, suspend, or terminate accounts is made in its sole discretion, though expanded appeal and complaint procedures are now described in more detail through the Snapchat Moderation, Enforcement, and Appeals Explainer and Support Site. The terms also add references to jurisdiction-specific online platform safety laws and direct users to the Transparency Hub for information on how Snap complies with those laws where applicable. You can review appeal options and compliance procedures through the resources linked in the Terms, and you may be able to challenge account restrictions if you believe they violate applicable law in your jurisdiction.

View change record →

Clause Stability Mostly Stable

1
Change
5
Months Monitored
Jul 9, 2026
First Seen
Jul 9, 2026
Last Seen
This clause has changed once in 5 months of monitoring.

Change history

removed Aug 7, 2026

Removal of explicit personalized advertising and recommendation provision eliminates transparency about how personal data is used for personalization, no longer making it a contractual condition.

View full change record →

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Under this clause, personalized advertising and content recommendations based on inferred interests are described as a condition of the contractual relationship with Snap, with a stated option to receive less personalization through in-app settings. The specific data types used for personalization are described in the referenced Privacy Policy.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle Personalized Advertising and Recommendations and similar clauses.

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Our Services provide a personalized experience to make them more relevant and engaging for you. We will recommend content, advertising, and other information to you based on what we know and infer about your and others' interests from use of our Services. It is necessary for us to handle your personal information for this purpose, as we explain in our Privacy Policy. Personalization is also a condition of our contract with you for us to be able to do so, unless you opt to receive less personalization in the Services.

Excerpt from Snapchat's Terms of Service

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The CCPA and California Privacy Rights Act require disclosure of the categories of personal information used for targeted advertising and provide California residents with the right to opt out of the sale or …

Insight

Unlock the full institutional analysis

Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.

Applicable agencies

  • Federal Trade Commission (ftc)
    Oversees unfair or deceptive business practices and can investigate companies that mislead consumers about data collection, sharing, or use.
    Who can file: Anyone affected by the company's practices (US or international)
    What you need: Your account details, a timeline of relevant events, and a description of the specific issue
    What to expect: Complaints inform FTC enforcement priorities and investigations but do not result in individual resolution or compensation
    File a complaint →
  • State Attorney General
    State AGs in California, New York, Texas, and other states can investigate violations of state consumer protection and privacy laws, including CCPA (California), SHIELD Act (New York), and equivalents.
    Who can file: Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws — primarily California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah
    What you need: Evidence of the violation, explanation of how your state rights were affected, and your account or contact information with the company
    What to expect: Outcomes vary by state. May result in investigation, enforcement action, or requirement for the company to change practices. No direct individual compensation in most cases.

    Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" to find your state's direct complaint form

Provision details

Document information
Document
Snapchat Terms of Service
Entity
Snapchat
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
April 28, 2026
Last verified
July 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-014150
Document ID
CA-D-00103
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
8d9d22bc9616d4201044c4a1ae939283187d24d69b99c49aca69fcede42bcd37
Analysis generated
April 28, 2026 09:50 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Snapchat
Document: Snapchat Terms of Service
Record ID: CA-P-014150
Captured: 2026-04-28 09:50:27 UTC
SHA-256: 8d9d22bc9616d420…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/snapchat/snapchat-terms-of-service/provision/CA-P-014150/personalized-advertising-and-recommendations/
Accessed: Sept. 8, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Snapchat's Personalized Advertising and Recommendations clause do?

The framing of personalization as a contractual necessity and condition of the agreement, rather than solely a consent-based processing activity, has implications for how users in jurisdictions with consent-based data processing requirements, such as the GDPR applicable to Snap Group Limited users, may exercise data subject rights. For U.S. users under this Snap Inc. agreement, the provision discloses that personalized …

How does this clause affect you?

Under this clause, personalized advertising and content recommendations based on inferred interests are described as a condition of the contractual relationship with Snap, with a stated option to receive less personalization through in-app settings. The specific data types used for personalization are described in the referenced Privacy Policy.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Snapchat?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Snapchat.