Snapchat advice for parents

With its spontaneous spirit and cute, funny filters, it’s no wonder that our children have fallen hook, line and sinker for Snapchat in recent years. After all, who doesn’t want to transform themselves into an adorable puppy or add sparkles to their eyes at the click of a button?

However, although the app can appear like just a bit of fun, there are some key precautions to take if your child is using it. We’ve outlined the main concerns and gathered some suggestions on how you can handle them.

What is Snapchat?

The app allows users to share photos, videos and messages with friends and family. Once the recipient has opened the media, it soon disappears within a few seconds. Users can also add Snaps to their Stories for friends to view for 24 hours.

Should children be using the app?

It’s important to note that the minimum age to sign up for a Snapchat account is thirteen years old. Still, many children under this age regularly enjoy using the app and for the most part, no harm is done.

Do snaps really disappear?

Snapchat’s official statement is “We automatically delete the content of your Snaps from our servers after we detect that a Snap has been opened by all recipients or has expired”. However, Snaps can still be screenshotted and saved by other users.

You should make it clear to your child that whilst the image or video they send to their friends does seem to vanish, it can easily be stored by the recipient.

Users should think about how they would feel or what the consequences would be if that image was shared either with fellow classmates or even their grandparents. Would it be embarrassing, or even worse, get them into trouble?

What should stay private?

It’s important for young people to understand the information that needs to stay personal to them, which applies to every social networking platform.

Data such as your home address, a phone number, financial and medical details should really be kept private, rather than be shared online.

Who are you talking to?

Luckily, privacy settings can be easily managed on Snapchat. The default only allows users to send and receive media from users that they have accepted or added to their friend list.

Nevertheless, parents should teach their children to only accept those that they know in real life and can trust. The app is designed in a way that promotes engagement with people you know, but you can still easily add a stranger in just a few moments.

What could go wrong?

Even if they are not using the app, kids should be aware that bullying issues can arise. They should be ready to talk to parents if they have experienced or know about a bullying incident

In the end, victimising someone online is just as serious as on the playground and can sometimes cause even more harm.

On top of this, your child must be aware that exchanging nude or sexually explicit images of anyone under the age of 18 is not only against Snapchat’s standards but also a crime. Again, a reminder of what should stay private should be at the forefront of any discussion about social media usage.

Keep these tips in mind and you can help your children to enjoy the internet and digital platforms without risking negative repercussions.