Is Snapchat Safe for Kids?

If you have kids, you’ve probably heard them talk about Snapchat. This messaging app is all the rage with teens and has become firmly embedded in their social landscape. But their comments about features like the Snap Map and Snapstreaks might leave you wondering, “Is Snapchat safe for kids?” In this article, we’ll answer that question and give you tips for helping your child stay safe on the app. 

What is Snapchat?

Snapchat is a free social media app that allows users to share messages, and pictures or videos (Snaps) with their friends and family. Users can also video chat with up to 15 friends simultaneously. Snapchat is best known for the way Snaps disappear after being viewed.

Snapchat also has a newsfeed-esque feature called Spotlight, which is similar to TikTok or YouTube Shorts. Users can browse trending stories from people and brands, including accounts they don’t follow.

Risks of Snapchat 

Sounds fun, but is Snapchat safe for kids? Let’s first take a look at some of the risks. 

• Disappearing messages: Because Snaps are designed to disappear, parents are unable to review their child’s online communication on the app.
• Drug dealers: Drug dealers have started using Snapchat, in large part because the disappearing messages leave no trace. They often use it to arrange sales and then deliver the goods right to your doorstep. 
• Location sharing: The Snap Map lets users share their physical location in real time with others. This feature displays where your child is throughout the day and updates in real time, leading to privacy concerns.  
• FOMO and peer pressure: Snapchat incentivizes users to share as often as possible on the app, giving kids near-constant access to what their friends are doing and who they’re hanging out with. This can create extra pressure on kids to keep up with their peers and contribute to a fear of missing out (FOMO)
• Group chats: Group chats can be a breeding ground for toxic behavior, cyberbullying, and exclusion, and Snapchat is no exception. The most worrisome part about group chats is the potential for your child to be exposed to strangers. Because other people can add users to a chat, a person who your child doesn’t know could easily start communicating with them.  
• Minimal parental controls: Although Snapchat’s parental controls have gotten better recently, they still leave quite a bit to be desired, such as access to message content. 
• Easy-to-bypass age verification: Snapchat’s minimum age is 13, but their age verification isn’t strict, making it easy for younger kids to sign up.

Is Snapchat safe for kids or not?

The answer to this is a bit nuanced. Snapchat does have risks. But, like most things, it comes down to how it’s used. 

If your child Snaps to stay in touch with close friends, that’s one thing. If they use it to chat with strangers or broadcast their location to the public, that’s a major concern. 

If you decide to let your child use Snapchat, it’s vital that you help them learn how to do so safely and keep an eye on how they use it. 

How to help your child use Snapchat safely

The good news is, there’s plenty you can do to help keep your kid safe on Snap. Here are our top tips: 

Talk to your child about the risks

Make sure your child is aware of the dangers of Snapchat, like stranger danger and cyberbullying. Be clear they should never Snap with people who they don’t know. 

Help them with their privacy settings

In Settings, you can customize who can and can’t see your child’s Snapchat stories. You can also set their account to Ghost Mode, which hides their location.

Utilize parental controls

Snapchat Family Center allows you to restrict sensitive content in your child’s Snapchat’s Stories and Spotlight sections, where they could be exposed to inappropriate material posted by others. It also lets you see who your child is communicating with and how frequently. It does not, however, let you see the actual Snaps that your child sends and receives. 

Monitor with BrightCanary

For the best way to help your child use Snapchat safely, you’ll want to download BrightCanary. Snapchat monitoring is currently in beta mode and slowly rolling out to users in the coming weeks. BrightCanary is the only child safety app for iPhone that will monitor Snapchat conversations.

Due to restrictions Snapchat places on third-party apps, BrightCanary can’t show you images your child receives, but it does give you access to most of the images they send and all text-based conversations. And, because BrightCanary uses advanced technology to scan your child’s activity, you can stay informed while still respecting your child’s privacy. 

Final word  

Snapchat poses several risks to kids, including location sharing, exposure to inappropriate images, and possible communication with strangers. Parents should help their child learn how to use Snapchat safely as well as monitor their child’s activity on the app. BrightCanary is the only child safety app for iPhone that will monitor Snapchat conversations, keeping you in the loop on your child’s activity, while respecting their privacy. Start your free trial today and sign up for the beta launch.