Snapchat Spotlight is a feature within the Snapchat app that allows users to share short videos publicly. Videos posted to Snapchat Spotlight have the potential to go viral and be seen by millions of Snapchat users. When you post a video to Spotlight, it also makes it available for public commenting.
With public commenting enabled, many Snapchat users wonder if they can directly reply to comments left on their Spotlight videos. The answer is yes, you can reply to comments on your Snapchat Spotlight videos. Here’s what you need to know about commenting and replying to comments on Snapchat Spotlight.
Replying to Comments on Spotlight
When you share a video to Spotlight, viewers can leave comment on it just like they can on a typical Snapchat Story. As the video owner, you will be notified when someone comments on your Spotlight video.
To see and reply to the comments:
- Open the Snapchat app and go to your profile page.
- Tap the Settings icon in the upper-right corner.
- Select “Spotlight videos” to see a list of the Spotlight videos you’ve shared.
- Tap on the video you want to view comments for.
- Scroll down to the bottom where it says “Comments”.
- You will now see all comments left on that video. Tap into any comment thread to view the full conversation.
From here, you can tap on any individual comment to reply directly to that user. Your reply will be visible to anyone who views that comment thread. You can have back-and-forth conversations with multiple users this way.
Replying to Spotlight comments works just like replying to standard Snapchat comments. The user will be notified when you reply to their comment. One thing to note is that your replies will be public, so anyone who comes across that comment thread will see the conversation.
Limitations of Replying to Spotlight Comments
While you can directly reply to a comment, commenting on Snapchat Spotlight does have a few limitations:
- You can only reply with text – you cannot reply with a snap, emoji or sticker within a Spotlight comment thread.
- There is no way to disable or limit commenting on Spotlight videos.
- You cannot delete comments left by others. You can only delete your own comments.
- Replying is only available in the mobile app. You cannot reply to Spotlight comments on the web.
So while Spotlight commenting is not as robust as the commenting on other platforms, it does provide a way to directly engage with your audience in the Snapchat app.
Best Practices for Replying to Spotlight Comments
If you plan on replying frequently to comments on your Snapchat Spotlight videos, keep these best practices in mind:
- Reply promptly to comments when possible. This keeps the conversation active and engaging.
- Stay positive in your replies, even to negative comments. Arguing or name-calling rarely helps.
- Reply individually when you can. This makes each user feel heard.
- Consider turning off notifications if replies become overwhelming. You can always check back in the app at your convenience.
- Use replies to thank users for their support and provide additional value to commenters through your responses.
Can You Turn Off Commenting on Spotlight?
Currently there is no way to disable commenting on Spotlight videos. When you share a video to Spotlight, it is public and open for commenting automatically. There is no setting to turn commenting off.
Some users wish Spotlight had the ability to limit or disable comments, like you can on other platforms. But for now, any video posted to Snapchat Spotlight will always have commenting enabled.
If you are not interested in replying to Spotlight comments, you can simply ignore the notifications. The comments will still be visible on your video, but you are not required to read or reply to them.
Replying to Comments from Friends vs. Public
There is one exception to public commenting on Snapchat Spotlight. If one of your friends views your Spotlight video and leaves a comment, their comment will only be visible to you and your friend.
For comments from people on your friends list, you can reply directly and have a private conversation. Your replies will only be seen by you and that friend.
So comments on Spotlight videos can be either:
- Public – from viewers who aren’t your Snapchat friends. Everyone can see these comments.
- Private – from Snapchat friends. Only visible to you and that friend.
This gives you the ability to have both public interactions and private conversations on the same Spotlight video. Just be aware that your replies to public comment threads will be public as well.
Deleting Your Own Comments
While you cannot delete comments from other users, you can delete comments you have made yourself. Here’s how:
- Go to the Spotlight video and open the comment thread.
- Tap and hold your comment that you want to delete.
- Tap the trash icon to delete your comment.
The comment will be removed instantly. Other users in the thread will see that your comment has been deleted. This only works for your own comments – you cannot delete replies made by others.
Reporting Inappropriate Spotlight Comments
Since Spotlight comments are public, there sometimes may be comments that are inappropriate, offensive, or abusive. If you see a comment on your Spotlight video that violates Snapchat’s Community Guidelines, you can report it to Snapchat for further review.
To report a Spotlight comment:
- Open the comment thread and tap on the comment you want to report.
- Tap the ⋮ icon in the top right corner.
- Select ‘Report’ to submit the comment to Snapchat for review.
Snapchat does not tolerate bullying, harassment, or threats against others. If a Spotlight comment crosses the line, reporting it prompts Snapchat to look into the situation and take potential action against the user.
Who Can See Your Spotlight Comments & Replies?
Except for private replies to friends, all Spotlight comments and conversations are public. That means:
- Any Snapchat user can see all public comments on a Spotlight video.
- Your replies are visible to anyone who opens that comment thread.
- There is no way to approve comments before they are posted.
So while commenting on Spotlight provides community engagement, it does lack controls over privacy and moderation.
Keep in mind that your profile name and photo are displayed with your comments. Anyone who views that Spotlight video can see public interactions you have in the comments.
Conclusion
Replying to comments on your Snapchat Spotlight videos is definitely possible. It provides a way to have conversations with your audience and engage directly with commenters.
However, all Spotlight replies are public. If you are comfortable having open, public discussions on your videos, replying can be a useful feature. But if you prefer more control over privacy and moderation, the open commenting may be a drawback.
Hopefully in the future Snapchat will provide more customization options for Spotlight comments and replies. But for now, commenting remains a very public experience by design.