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Snapchat is reportedly working on third-party access controls

Snapchat is reportedly working on third-party access controls

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‘Connected Apps’ was found in a beta version of the app

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Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Snap is reportedly working on a new feature that will let users control which third-party apps will have access to their Snapchat accounts, according to Mashable. The publication reports that the latest beta version of Snapchat features a new tab in the settings screen called “Connected Apps.” The screen simply has text that reads: “These apps are connected to your Snapchat account. Choose an app to control what it has access to.”

The timing is particularly bad, given that Facebook is facing public outrage over the company’s data collection policies. The Facebook scandal erupted after news reports from The Guardian revealed third-party firm Cambridge Analytics misused data from as many as 50 million Facebook users.

Image: Mashable

Snapchat’s new settings screen is most likely similar to those found on Facebook, Google, and Twitter, where users can control third-party access. Snap currently lets the Bitmoji app (which it owns) access Snapchat accounts. Snap also has a partnership with Shazam, which allows users to identify music and send music discoveries as snaps to friends.

Snap has recently introduced more features like a Map Explore tool and custom face lenses. It’s important to note that the screens found were in a beta version and might not even be released. If the beta does go ahead, allowing more third-party apps access to your Snapchat might mean more features, but it would also involve the risk of letting more companies potential access to your data.