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Cyber Expert Reviewer:
Reviewed on Dec 7, 2022
Snapchat is a social media and messaging platform where users can share time-limited (self-destructing) content such as messages, photos and videos with connected friends and the public, as well as engage in group chats, private messaging, calls, and playing games with other users.
Snap Inc. the parent company, describes itself as a ‘camera company’.
Snapchat’s content is unmoderated and the platform has many features, including Snap Map, Stories, My Eyes Only, Discover, filters and lenses, and Spotlight, some of which may pose a significant risk to young people’s online safety and security. Accordingly, our online safety experts have given Snapchat a higher age rating than recommended by the App store.
Unless location tracking is turned off, Snapchat will show our child's exact location on a map for their friends and followers to see. Additionally, Snapchat will show you what strangers are posting within your vicinity. All public posts are unmoderated.
Users to post and watch other people's Snapchat Stories. Stories are collections of videos of photos that stay online for up to 24 hours. Kids can see who has looked at their story. Users can also watch stories from other people, including celebrities.
Spotlight is a highlight reel of Snapchat's most entertaining bite-sized video clips (similar to Instagram Reels and TikTok). Users must submit their videos to Snapchat for evaluation; however, there is no guarantee they will be accepted into the Spotlight section. The names of creators under 18 years of age are not visible, and there is also no comments section.
Snapchat monetizes the top-performing Spotlight videos (determined by the Snapchat algorithm) through the chance to win a share in millions of Snap Crystals every month, which can be cashed out for money in the Crystals Hub (thereby incentivizing users to stay on the platform and create content). Snapchat notifies creators of any rewards they may be eligible for through push notifications, encouraging them to engage with the app further.
The nature of the disappearing content makes Snapchat a tough one to supervise. Kids can also feel protected by the limited time a photo or message 'exists' for, and therefore may use Snapchat for cyber bullying, or more commonly, for sexting.
The Subscription section of Snapchat offers content created by anyone using this app. Discover offers content created by other users, news and entertainment outlets, businesses and celebrities. Users can subscribe to any of these Snapchat videos to ensure they keep seeing this content. The range of content in this section is extensive and can be mature in nature. Subscription stories often feature promos prompting kids to "swipe up" to learn more (which usually leads to ads) or take a quiz (which is usually a marketing tool).
Snaps you send and receive can now be saved. Users can simply; press and hold on the snap to save it. To make sure others cannot save your snaps make sure you DO NOT have your photos set to 'No Limit' or videos set to 'Loop.'
If you allow your teen to use this app it is essential that they enter their correct date of birth upon signing up. While Snapchat does have a lot of mature content, much of this is fortunately filtered out when the correct age is entered upon signup. 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.
Snapchat generates each user their own QR code. It is easy then to add people using their QR code. Due to the ease of being able to add people, your child may end up interacting with a stranger.
It is important to remember that revealing your location on any app is risky (even if it is just to your real life friends). It is safest to have your map turned off (Ghost Mode). If your friends want to know where you are they can simply message or call you. The map feature has also been known to cause some issues between friends, as it can make it obvious if someone is excluded from a social activity.
The filters on Snapchat are super fun, and a lot of the time users feel like they look better with a filter on. That's because it's made to be that way. Snapchat will apply facial modifications to make pictures more attractive. It is important to remind yourself that the images and videos you see on Snapchat are not a reflection of real life.
Although many kids use this app for positive communication, there have been several incidents where kids in group chats will bully other students. If you see this happening go to a parent for help and take a screen shot of the communication you have found to be upsetting.
Remember, even sharing the smallest details about ourselves can put us at risk. Make sure you aren't revealing any of your real life information and be sure to only share your photos and videos with real life friends. Intimate photos and videos are often screen recorded by other people, including people taking photos or videos with a different device. Remember, once something is sent online you no longer have control over where it goes.
1. When opening the app, tap left side profile picture
2. In the top right hand corner, click on the Settings button (the gear)
3. Under the 'Who Can...' section, set everything to 'My Friends'
4 . Click on 'See me in Quick Add' and turn off
1. Launch the app, and pinch the screen top open Snap Maps
3. Under the 'Who Can...' section, click on 'See My Location'
4. Turn on 'Ghost Mode
The Gold Standard: COPPA [Implemented globally, legally enforced only in the U.S.]
California: CCPA
U.K and Europe: GDPR-K
Australia: Online Safety Act 2021