Searches for ‘delete Snapchat’ explode 488% as controversial My AI feature is introduced to every account

With the popularity of ChatGPT on the rise, Snapchat this week launched its own AI chatbot that is powered by OpenAI’s GPT technology, the same technology that is being integrated into Microsoft’s Bing search engine. However, the launch was met with mixed reviews.

The feature, called My AI, is pinned to the top of users’ chat feeds and can only be removed by paid subscribers. As a result, confusion has arisen about the app’s use of location data, leading to online criticism. Analysis of Google search data reveals that online searches for ‘delete Snapchat’ exploded 488% worldwide yesterday, on the 26th of April, after the social media platform introduced the My AI feature to all user accounts.

A new finding by cyber security consultants CloudTech24 found that online interest in the term ‘delete Snapchat’ has skyrocketed over five times the average in the last three months. Searches for ‘how to delete Snapchat account’ have also risen 70% worldwide over the last week, and the hashtag #SnapchatAI currently has over 180 million views on TikTok.

However, a spokesperson for Snap said that the “vast majority” of people with early access to My AI had been enjoying it, with millions of messages sent per day. “We’ve appreciated all the feedback from our passionate community as we continue to improve the experience,” the spokesperson told the BBC.

The rise in interest in deleting Snapchat accounts across the globe comes after the social media platform rolled out the feature for all 375 million users, but opinions of the AI addition have been divided, and many are now threatening to leave the app altogether.

A spokesperson for CloudTech24 commented on the findings: “The My AI feature uses the data that Snapchat collects about each user to make its interactions feel more like a conversation with a friend. Some users, however, view this as a violation of privacy, raising concerns about how their data is being used. The chatbot also came under fire recently, when it was a Snapchat+ exclusive feature only, for providing inappropriate and unsafe responses after being told it was talking to young teenagers.

These findings provide an eye-opening insight into the staggering rise in Snapchat users looking to cancel their accounts from across the globe, with many claiming the new feature as a violation of privacy.”