×
Snapchat’s AI Selfies Put Your Face in Personalized Ads — Here’s How to Prevent It
Written by
Published on
Join our daily newsletter for breaking news, product launches and deals, research breakdowns, and other industry-leading AI coverage
Join Now

Snapchat introduces AI-generated selfie ads with privacy concerns: Snapchat’s new My Selfie feature allows users to create AI-generated images of themselves, but it comes with a controversial setting that enables the company to use these selfies in personalized ads.

Key features and implications: The My Selfie feature on Snapchat enables users to generate AI-powered images of themselves based on photos shared with the platform.

  • Users are prompted to agree to terms that allow Snapchat to use their likeness in “personalized sponsored content and ads” visible only to the user.
  • The feature includes AI-generated images with branding or advertising content from Snap or its business partners.
  • Users do not receive compensation for the use of their likeness in these personalized ads.

Privacy settings and user control: While users can opt out of having their AI-generated selfies used in ads, the default setting allows this usage.

  • To disable the feature, users must navigate to their profile settings, select “My Selfie,” and toggle off the “See My Selfie in Ads” option.
  • The setting is reportedly enabled by default once users agree to Snap’s terms, as confirmed by both 404 Media and The Verge.

Data sharing and advertiser access: Snapchat maintains that user data remains protected and is not shared with third-party advertisers.

  • According to Snapchat spokesperson Maggie Cherneff, advertisers do not have access to users’ generative AI data, including My Selfies.
  • The company also states that advertisers cannot access private user data, such as Memories, that could enable the creation of AI-generated images of individual users.
  • Cherneff clarified that Snap currently does not use My Selfies in advertising, despite the terms allowing for such use.

User awareness and transparency: The introduction of this feature raises questions about user awareness and consent regarding the use of their likeness in advertising.

  • The terms of use for My Selfie are presented to users upon first use of the feature, but the implications may not be immediately clear to all users.
  • The default opt-in nature of the ad usage setting may lead to users unknowingly agreeing to have their AI-generated selfies used in personalized ads.

Broader context of AI and privacy: This development is part of a larger trend of AI integration in social media platforms and the associated privacy concerns.

  • As AI technology becomes more prevalent in social media features, users are increasingly faced with complex decisions about their data and likeness usage.
  • The incident highlights the importance of clear communication and easily accessible privacy controls for AI-powered features on social platforms.

Looking ahead: Balancing innovation and user privacy: Snapchat’s My Selfie feature represents the ongoing challenge tech companies face in balancing innovative AI-powered features with user privacy concerns.

  • As AI technology continues to advance, social media platforms will likely introduce more features that utilize user data and likenesses in novel ways.
  • This situation underscores the need for users to remain vigilant about privacy settings and for companies to prioritize transparent communication about data usage.
  • The development may prompt discussions about the ethical implications of using AI-generated likenesses in advertising, even when shown only to the user themselves.
Snapchat’s AI selfie feature puts your face in personalized ads — here’s how to turn it off

Recent News

Nvidia launches AI tool to generate images from 3D scenes

Nvidia's new tool enables precise control over AI-generated images through 3D scene layouts, addressing the spatial limitations of traditional text-prompt systems.

SaaStr 2025 unites top cloud, B2B and AI leaders in SF Bay

Featuring over 15,000 attendees and 500 speakers, the three-day event will highlight proven strategies from executives who have built successful cloud businesses rather than theoretical AI discussions.

Visa develops AI-powered cards for seamless automated purchases

Visa's platform allows AI assistants to execute transactions using tokenized credentials within user-defined parameters, eliminating payment friction in automated shopping.