Snapchat rolls out Topic Chats for public conversations around shared interests

Snapchat is launching Topic Chats, a new chat type designed for public conversations centered on trending events and topics in local communities. This feature incorporates Snapchat’s popular chat tools into broader discussions, shifting beyond the platform’s traditional focus on private messaging. Topic Chats visually organize related Snaps, making it easy for users to explore media and conversations about a specific subject.

As this feature rolls out over the coming weeks, Snapchat users in Canada, New Zealand, and the United States will begin to see Topic Chats integrated throughout the app. They will appear in chat shortcuts, search results, the stories page, and within spotlight videos. Users can look for a prominent yellow “Join the Chat” button on stories and spotlight content, which provides direct access to join Topic Chats and discover related spotlight videos.

While expanding public conversation, Snapchat enables users to see when their friends are active in a given Topic Chat, supporting discovery of shared interests. To maintain a safe experience, all Topic Chats are moderated, and user profiles remain visible only to friends. This approach helps prevent unwanted social connections or direct messages within these new public group spaces.