A Parent’s Guide to Snapchat

Snapchat is a truly unique social media platform based around temporary image sharing. Users send their ‘Snaps’ to friends who then have a limited amount of time to view the picture or video. There is also a messaging feature where users can talk to friends and send pictures and videos to create a story. The story can only be viewed by contacts. The thing that really sets Snapchat apart from all other platforms is its mobile only nature. Mashable reports that it’s gaining ground with teenagers and millennials (its core demographic) and is now the third most popular platform for the age group, behind Instagram and Facebook.

If you’re a parent to a teen or pre-tween, it is well worth understanding how to stay safe on Snapchat and becoming familiar with its safety functions, even if you don’t plan to use it yourself.

Saving Images

Images sent on Snapchat are intended to be temporary and should disappear after a pre-determined time limit. However, most users have figured out a workaround to this by taking screenshots when the image is displayed. To counteract this, Snapchat has created a feature that will alert the user if someone takes a screenshot of an uploaded pic. Ask them to tell you if someone they don’t know is regularly saving their snaps. This is the easiest way to know if they have any rogue ‘friends’ on there and it will help build trust between you and your child.

Many users believe that images and videos will automatically disappear if a screenshot isn’t taken. However, forensic scientists have been examining Snapchat and have found that data can be recovered. This again needs to be explained carefully to your child before they send images they will regret later in life.

Snapkidz

Like all social media platforms you have to be 13 years old to use Snapchat. Uniquely, users under 13 are allowed to use the app albeit in a different mode. Snapkidz mode means your pre-teen can take pictures and draw on them but cannot send them and can’t build a contact list. This is a great way to let them play on the app without any risk.

Talk

Snapchat is not like other social media platforms and you need to make your children aware of this. Most of their friends who have mobiles will be on Snapchat. As with any platform or messaging system, ground rules should be in place preventing the addition of people they don’t know. Other standard safety rules should also apply - no publishing their username in a public place where strangers could add it for example.