Nintendo Switch 2's GameChat: Balancing Privacy and Safety

Nintendo Switch 2's new GameChat voice chat feature balances user privacy with enhanced child protection. GameChat is limited to friends only, requiring phone number verification. For minors, parental consent via the Nintendo Parental Controls app is mandatory, allowing parents to approve friend requests and control video chat access. GameChat temporarily records the last three minutes of audio and video for handling reported violations, but users can withdraw consent at any time. While recordings may be used to investigate violations, Nintendo emphasizes this is to maintain a safe and family-friendly online environment.