Is Snapchat safe for kids?: What parents need to know
Snapchat is a popular messaging app that allows users to send photos, videos, and messages that disappear after a certain amount of time. While it can be a fun way for teens and young adults to communicate with friends, there are also potential risks associated with the platform. Here's what parents need to know about keeping their kids safe on Snapchat.
How does Snapchat work?
Snapchat's main feature is the ability to send "Snaps" - mainly pictures or videos - that disappear after they’re viewed. Snaps added to the various “Story” feeds typically delete after 24 hours after posting, but that can vary depending on your personal settings.
Snapchat also has a chat function and allows users to add filters, captions, and more to their Snaps. With features like Snap Map, which shows your child's location to their friends, and Discover, which showcases content from publishers, it's essential for parents to understand how the app works.
Age requirements for Snapchat
The minimum age requirement to create a Snapchat account is 13 years old. This means that younger children may not fully understand the implications of using the app or may be exposed to inappropriate content.
How to sign up for Snapchat
To create a Snapchat account, you need to provide your name, date of birth, and phone number. There are also options to sign up using an email address or through your existing social media accounts. You can also set a username and profile picture for your account.
Snapchat fun features for kids and teens
Snapchat offers many fun and creative features that are popular among teens. Here are some highlights:
Filters and lenses
Snapchat has a variety of filters and lenses that can be applied to photos and videos, from face-altering effects to location-based filters. These can add a playful element to Snaps but may also raise concerns about privacy.
Snap Map
Snap Map is an opt-in feature that allows users to share their real-time location with friends on the app.
Snapchat Discover
Discover is a feature that showcases content from publishers and influencers. This includes news stories, entertainment updates, and sponsored content. Parents can discuss responsible consumption of media and potentially inappropriate or misleading content with their kids.
Snapstreaks
Snapstreaks is an incentive feature that tracks how many consecutive days two users have sent Snaps to each other. Since it’s a daily measure, Snapstreaks can encourage constant communication and potentially lead to feelings of urgency or pressure to keep up.
Is Snapchat safe for kids and teens?
While Snapchat offers many fun and creative features, there are potential risks associated with the app that are important to know about and discuss with kids, including:
Exposure to inappropriate content
Both Snapchat's Discover section and its overall search function can expose kids to inappropriate or harmful content as well as advertising and marketing quiz prompts. It’s a good idea to explore these areas to see what your child might be exposed to.
Privacy concerns
Snap Map and location sharing, the ability to screenshot Snaps, and features like Spotlight, Memories, and other options that allow kids to save Snaps raise privacy concerns for many parents.
Cyberbullying
As with any social media platform, there is always a risk of cyberbullying on Snapchat. Parents can discuss online safety guidelines and best practices and encourage kids to speak up if they experience or witness bullying of any kind.
Pressure to maintain digital personas
The pressure to maintain a certain image or persona on social media can be psychologically taxing and even damaging for kids and teens. The emphasis on fleeting content, visual communication, and maintaining Snapstreaks could lead to feelings of anxiety about personal appearance, social status, and many other factors that can contribute to self-esteem issues and more.
Online predators
The Snapchat format could potentially be exploited by online predators who might use the app's features to connect with unsuspecting minors, manipulate them, and attempt to engage in inappropriate conversations or behavior. Parents can educate their children about the dangers of interacting with strangers and other threats online and the importance of reporting any suspicious activity.
Protecting your child's safety on Snapchat
Using Snapchat safely
Here are some tips for parents to ensure their child's safety while using Snapchat:
Manage privacy settings: Encourage your child to set their account to "Private" so only approved friends can see and interact with their content. You can also disable features like Snap Map and Quick Add for added privacy.
Discuss appropriate and inappropriate content: Have a conversation with your child about what's appropriate to send and receive on Snapchat, including the potential consequences of sharing explicit or inappropriate content. Be specific about what they can and cannot share or engage in on Snapchat, such as nudity or cyberbullying. It might also help to remind them that the internet can be forever - even deleted content.
Teach responsible use: Remind your child to think before they post and consider who will see their content. Also, educate them on how to block and report unwanted contacts or content.
Talk about digital footprint: Discuss with your child the importance of being mindful of what they share on Snapchat and other social media platforms. Even deleted content can have a lasting digital footprint or online presence.
Turn off location sharing: Show your child how to turn off location sharing on Snap Map and encourage them to share their location only with close friends.
Educate about stranger danger: Remind your child not to add or accept friend requests from strangers and never meet up with someone they've only met online.
Monitor their use: Keep an eye on your child's activity and talk to them about any content or interactions they may have had that are concerning.
Use content controls: Some phone carriers offer parental control options for limiting their child's access to certain apps, including Snapchat.
Leverage Snapchat’s Family Center: In 2024, Snapchat expanded its in-app parental tools. Parents can see who their teens are talking to, submit confidential reports, and better manage content controls.
By staying informed about Snapchat and having open conversations with your child about its use, you can help keep them safe while still having fun. Familiarize yourself with Snapchat's terms of use and safety policies, and regularly check in with your child about their usage of the app.
FAQs about Snapchat safety for kids and teens
Q: Can I monitor my child's Snapchat activity?
A: You can access Content Controls through the Snapchat Family Center. You can limit the types of content teens can access, filter out some content from Spotlight and Stories, and see who your teen’s friends are, among other features.
Q: Can strangers contact my child on Snapchat?
A: Anyone with your child's username can add them as a friend on Snapchat. Encourage your child to only add people they know in real life and discuss the dangers of interacting with strangers online.
Q: Are there any age restrictions for using Snapchat?
A: The minimum age requirement to create a Snapchat account is 13 years old.
Q: What should my child do if they receive inappropriate content?
A: Instruct your child not to respond and immediately report it to you. Often, it's also possible and recommended to report this directly within the app to Snapchat’s support team. Parents can also report inappropriate content and any other concerns through the Snapchat Family Center.
Q: How can I ensure my child's Snap Map location is protected?
A: Once Snap Map has been enabled, it cannot be fully disabled. But it can be set to "Ghost Mode," which hides a user’s location from other Snapchatters.
Q: What are Snapstreaks, and should I be concerned about them?
A: Snapstreaks represent exchanges between users with a flame emoji and a number next to a friend's name, indicating consecutive days of exchanging snaps. Since you need to Snap with someone daily to maintain a Snapstreak, there is potential pressure to continuously use the app.
Q: How can my child remove someone from their friends list on Snapchat?
A: First, it’s important to note that removing a friend doesn’t fully block them. Friends no longer on a list can still see any public content you post and potentially Chat or Snap you. It’s always a good idea to show your child how and where to remove a friend so they can do it, too.
To remove someone from a Snapchat friends list:
Go to the Chat screen by swiping right
Tap on a friend’s name and hold
Tap 'Manage Friendship'
Tap 'Remove Friend'
You can also remove a friend through their profile:
Go to the Chat screen by swiping right
Tap on their profile icon to open it
Tap the three dots at the top
Tap ‘Manage Friendship’
Tap ‘Remove Friend’
Q: Can my child retrieve Snaps after they've disappeared?
A: Messages and pictures in Snaps disappear after being viewed or after a set time - unless they are saved in the chat by the sender or receiver. Even though the content disappears from the app, your child should understand the risks of sharing as there's always a possibility of content being captured by a screenshot or another device.
Q: What is the "My Eyes Only" feature and is it safe?
A: This is a passcode-protected space within Snapchat Memories where users can store Snaps they want to keep private.
Q: Are there ways to filter content on Snapchat's Discover feature?
A: Parents can now filter some select content on Snapchat Discover and Stories through the Family Center Content Controls.
Armed with knowledge and proactive communication, parents can significantly enhance their children's safety on Snapchat. Informing kids and keeping an open dialogue about the risks and responsibilities of social media are critical parts of navigating Snapchat and other online tools safely. By setting clear boundaries, educating on the nuances of digital interaction, and staying engaged with kids’ online activities, parents can help create a safer environment for them to connect and share moments with friends virtually.
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