The primary social media applications used by teens are Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. Learning about the apps and how to increase safety for children while on them is crucial for all families and guardians. There are now several great resources to learn about Snapchat.
This article by Common Sense Media includes abundant information as well as a parent’s guide to Snapchat. “Is Snapchat safe for kids? How does it work? And what’s with Snapstreaks? Everything curious parents need to know about this ultra-popular app.” https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/parents-ultimate-guide-to-snapchat#Is%20Snapchat%20safe%20for%20tweens%20and%20teens?
From Snapchat directly, here’s a Parent Guide to Snapchat and assistance to report concerns – https://parents.snapchat.com/
The Wisconsin Department of Justice, ICAC Task Force released this resource with additional information, which we’ve shared in its entirety as it is very complete and informative:
What is Snapchat?
Snapchat is a popular messaging app that lets users exchange pictures and videos, called snaps, that are meant to disappear after they are viewed. The essential function is to take a picture or video, add filters, lenses, or other effects, and share it with friends. The app is free to download, and also has a premium subscription plan called Snapchat+.
How does Snapchat work?
All you need to sign up is your name, an email address or a phone number, and your birth date. To add friends, you can upload your contacts or search for people you know. You can also automatically add someone by taking a picture of their “Snapcode,” a special QR code unique to each user.
Communication is usually started by sending a photo or video, not a text message. To begin a conversation, you tap the big camera circle and take a snap. There are all sorts of photo-editing tools, as well as filters to decorate your images and videos. Once you customize your “snap,” you can send it to anyone on your friends list, add it to your story (which is a record of the day that your friends can view for 
24 hours), and add it to Snap Map (which displays your photo on a map of your location that can be viewed by anyone on Snapchat).
Snapchat provides several options for sharing and managing snaps. In addition to individual messaging, Snapchat offers group chats that everyone in a group can contribute to.
How old do you have to be to use Snapchat?
According to the terms of service, users must be 13. You have to enter your birth date to set up an account, but there’s no age verification, so it’s easy for kids under 13 to sign up. Common Sense Media rates Snapchat OK for teens 16 and up, mainly because of the exposure to age-inappropriate content and the marketing ploys, such as quizzes, that collect data.
Do messages really disappear on Snapchat?
It depends. If you set a time limit on a snap, it will disappear after it’s viewed. However, recipients can take a screenshot of an image using their phones or a third-party screen-capture app. If someone uses their phone to take a screenshot of what you sent, you will be notified. But screen captures from third-party apps don’t trigger a notification. For these reasons, it’s best for teens to understand that nothing done online is really temporary. Before sending a snap of themselves or someone else, it’s important to remember that it’s out of their control after it’s shared.
Is Snapchat safe for preteens and teens?
Most kids use Snapchat to stay in contact with their friends, however, there are three key risky areas:
The myth of disappearing messages. When Snapchat first started, it was labeled “the sexting app” because people sent intimate photos, assuming they’d self-destruct. Any app can be misused, but a lot of kids mistakenly believe that Snapchat has a built-in safety valve. It is important for Teens to be aware that the content they share can be saved and shared and may never go away.
The time distraction. Features such as Snapstreaks and Stories add a time-pressure element that makes kids feel like they have to check in.
If it ever seems like your kid is stressing out and not using the app for fun, it’s time to step in.
Privacy and safety. Since it’s so easy to add friends on Snapchat, you can end up with many people you don’t know well on your friends list. Depending on your settings, the app can collect a ton of data about your habits in—and outside of—the app. Snapchat also works with a lot of third parties that they share your data with.
Check out the Parents’ Ultimate Guide to Snapchat from Common Sense Media to learn more about popular features on Snapchat such as Snapstreaks, Snap Map, Snapchat story, Snapcode, Snap Discover and more!
If you find additional resources for families to learn about this topic or any other, please feel free to share them with us at admin@deangeliscenter.org.
