New applications for social networking are being released all the time. It may be challenging if you’re trying to keep your children safe online and want to know if Snapchat is safe for children. In this post, you’ll learn about the app’s most popular features, the possible Snapchat risks associated with utilizing those features, and how to keep your kids safe while using Snapchat.
You’ve probably heard about Snapchat if you have kids or teens. And if you’re like most parents and can’t figure out how it works, you’re not alone. It provides kids and teenagers exactly what they want: an easy method to share daily experiences while also making them appear cool.
Snapchat, like several other social media apps, is a mixed bag, so understanding how it works, how your children use it, and how much time they spend on it can help you guarantee they have a positive experience.
For youngsters, there’s something attractive about snapping, sharing, and then quickly moving on from life’s small moments. That is, for the most part, how they use Snapchat. The app, however, has much more to offer, including games, news and entertainment, quizzes, and even serialized series from well-known brands.
What is Snapchat?
It is a popular mobile messaging application that lets you send “snaps” (short text, image, or video messages) deleted after a few seconds. The fleeting nature of snaps appeals to teens on Snapchat since it allows for informal communication without leaving a record of what was said.
Snapchat has undergone significant changes to compete with other social media platforms, including adding original series and new features such as Our Stories, allowing many users to contribute to a single story. This updated Snapchat parent guide will keep you up to date on the latest updates.
Is Snapchat Safe?
Parents may be concerned about Snapchat features, such as the Snap Map, which allows users to share their location. Because of Snapchat’s focus on impermanence, your kid may feel more secure sharing private content, even though inappropriate Snapchat images and other content can still be screenshotted, stored, and shared on public social media sites.
Another issue is that there is no age verification when creating an account. A youngster under 13 can create an account and join older teens on Snapchat by lying about their age. Snapchat used to have a distinct service called Snapchat for Kids for users under the age of 13; however, it has since been discontinued.
Snapchat features and dangers
Snapchat is continually improving and adding new features to its platform. While many of Snapchat’s new features are entertaining and harmless, there are still certain risks to be aware of.
Snaps
Snaps are photos and pictures that you may edit with filters or lenses.
Snap Map
People can publish their geolocation on a real map that can be used to find them using Snap Map. While this is great for meeting up with friends, the location you’re giving is quite detailed, even the building you’re in. Because this location can be shared as a Story, it can be shared with anyone other than friends, thus exposing children and teens to inappropriate Snapchat users.
Chat and Calls
Snapchat allows you to communicate by video, picture, voice, or text. A user cannot receive one-on-one conversation from someone who has not been accepted as a friend.
Snap delete by default.
Snaps disappear once the receiver views them, much like “words in a conversation,” but keep in mind that anybody can screenshot or capture the screen with their phone or another device. If someone captures a screenshot, you’ll be informed, but all bets are off if they picture the screen with another camera or device.
Ghost Mode
It indicates that you are not sharing your location with anybody.
My Story
Your friends will be able to see Snaps you post here for 24 hours in chronological order, allowing you to thread Snaps together into one long narrative, just as you experienced it.
Memories
Snaps and Stories you’ve saved to your account. You can also opt to keep specific Memories in the password-protected “My Eyes Only” area, which is useful for parents.
Does Snapchat have any privacy or security features?
According to Snapchat, the business created a Safety Advisory Board to “educate, challenge, raise concerns, and advise Snapchatters on how to keep the Snapchat community safe.”
Snapchat has added the following features to its location reporting, blocking, and disabling functionalities:
Safety Snapshot
Snapchat’s digital literacy initiative aims to teach Snapchat users about data, privacy, security, and online safety.
Updated privacy for under 18s
Snapchatters under the age of 18 do not have public profiles that can be browsed.
Default chat functions
If you haven’t added each other as friends, you won’t be able to chat or contact them directly by default.
Tips for you and your kids
Manage your setting
It’s critical to understand Snapchat’s privacy settings. If the default “My Friends” setting is selected, users can only share and receive media from persons they’ve added to their friends’ list. Any minor who uses Snapchat should continue to use this setting. Visit https://support.snapchat.com/a/privacy-settings for additional information.
Do not share personal information.
Remind your children that sharing any personally identifying information is dangerous. It is not a good idea to share financial or medical details. Phone numbers and addresses should only be given to friends or family members that you trust with such information as needed.
Protect passwords and set up two-factor authentication
Make sure your children have a strong and unique password they don’t disclose with anybody, just like they should with any other account. Someone can spoof them or compromise their account if they know their password.
Saving snaps
Although Snaps aren’t saved by default, the creator or a viewer can always save a Snap before sharing it or snap a screenshot. You may even save a duplicate by taking a screen photo with another camera or with other tools.
As a result, it’s important to warn children not to send Snaps that are illegal, may get them in problems now or in the future, or would be embarrassing if viewed by grandparents, college admissions officers, or future employers.
Parental control apps
For mobile devices, the Android and iOS operating systems provide parental controls. Use them to actively control your child’s phone usage. You can also use third party parental controls to monitor your kids’ Snapchat activities.
Nudity
Teens should be aware that sending nude or sexually abusive images of anybody under the age of 18, including themselves, is a serious crime, in addition to breaking Snapchat’s community guidelines.
Location
Teach your children to be careful while sharing their location. Except for close family members and a few trusted friends, we advise teenagers to remain in Ghost Mode.
Connect only with real-life friends
Please remind your children that it’s better to only friend individuals they know in real life and that meeting up with someone they met online is unsafe.
What can you do about harassment or receiving unwanted Snaps?
If your teen’s Snapchat settings are set to “My Friends,” but they are still receiving abusive Snaps from another user, they should block that user and report them to Snapchat’s Safety team.
Block
Snapchat allows users to block those who may send them Snaps, talk with them, or see their Story.
Report Abuse
Hold down the Snap button and then press the flag icon. If someone sends them inappropriate images or harasses them, they should notify Snapchat’s Safety team by visiting support.snapchat.com/en-US/ca/policies-and-safety and selecting the “Report a Safety Concern” tab from the menu.
If you come across something that appears to be illegal or dangerous, or if you have reason to believe someone is in danger of harm or self-harm, contact local law authorities immediately away.
Conclusion
Snapchat is one of the popular apps among kids, although new apps are released regularly. That’s why it’s so important to talk to your kids about being safe online and to encourage them to develop critical thinking skills – safety is typically determined by how you use an app rather than what app you use.
In terms of security, privacy, reputation, and time management, parents must maintain open lines of communication and collaborate to choose what is best for their family. It’s generally preferable to chat with your kids about their hobbies and learn what they use with their devices. It helps you to understand the new technology and safety measures.
