Snap and LinkedIn are fighting back against a flood of low-quality AI content
As generative AI tools become easier to use, social platforms are grappling with an influx of low-quality, algorithmically produced content that can crowd out more substantive posts. Two major platforms - Snap and LinkedIn - have now moved to address the problem in different ways, signaling that content moderation policies are starting to catch up with the pace of AI adoption.
Snap has announced a ban on AI-generated videos in Spotlight, its short-form video feed designed to surface content from across the Snapchat community. The policy draws a clear line: videos produced externally by AI tools are not welcome, but content that has been edited or enhanced using Snapchat's own built-in AI features is still permitted. This distinction suggests Snap is less concerned with AI involvement per se and more focused on preserving the sense that Spotlight reflects genuine human expression and creativity.
LinkedIn has taken a different approach. Rather than outright restricting AI-generated posts, the Microsoft-owned professional network has added a dedicated reporting button that allows users to flag content they consider low-quality AI output. The feature gives the community a more direct role in surfacing problematic content, and puts a label on a phenomenon - often called "AI slop" - that has become a persistent complaint among users frustrated by hollow, engagement-baiting posts written or generated with minimal human input.
Both moves point to a broader tension that platforms will likely be managing for some time. Generative AI lowers the cost of producing content dramatically, which can be useful for legitimate creators but also makes it trivial to flood feeds with filler. By carving out policies that distinguish between quality-conscious AI use and indiscriminate AI output, Snap and LinkedIn are attempting to keep their feeds useful without banning AI tools altogether - a balance that will require ongoing adjustment as the technology continues to develop.
