How parents can help keep their children safe on Snapchat

Snapchat, while the tenth most popular social media platform globally, boasts over 750 million monthly active users, particularly among children and teens. Its engaging features, such as disappearing messages, stories, and augmented reality filters, contribute to its appeal. However, the app raises significant concerns regarding online privacy and safety that parents should closely examine to keep their children secure while using it.

The app claims to prioritize user privacy, primarily through its signature disappearing messages which delete sent content after being viewed. Despite this, Snapchat collects substantial personal data, including personally identifiable information (PII), location, and biometric data, which it shares with third parties for analytics and marketing purposes. This data collection poses a risk, especially with the introduction of features like the MyAI chatbot, which can target ads based on users’ conversations and profiles, as highlighted by UK data regulators.

Key safety risks for children on Snapchat include the challenges posed by disappearing messages, which can obscure parental supervision and make it harder to monitor their children’s online interactions. This feature can inadvertently foster reckless sharing behavior, as children might mistakenly believe that their posts carry no consequences, thus exposing them to potential cyberbullying and inappropriate content.

Cyberbullying is a pressing issue on Snapchat, with only about 23% of high school students reporting incidents to adults, making the problem particularly acute due to the nature of transient messages. Parents may also worry about their children encountering inappropriate content in Stories or Spotlight, as despite moderation efforts, some content may still be sensitive or suggestive. Additionally, the potential for grooming and sextortion exists on the platform, given features like Snap Map that can disclose users’ locations to others, increasing the risk of unwanted interactions with adults.

Snapstreaks, a gamification element that encourages users to send snaps back and forth regularly, can lead to addictive behavior and oversharing. This dynamic may contribute to anxiety and low self-esteem among active users, reinforcing the importance of parental oversight in managing social media use.

To safeguard their children while using Snapchat, parents should become familiar with the app’s functionalities and engage in open discussions about its potential risks and benefits. Establishing rules regarding who children can connect with and the types of content they can share is essential. Furthermore, discussing the significance of not oversharing personal data on social media can instill good habits in children.

Parents are recommended to review Snapchat’s safety features together with their children. These include notifications when receiving messages from non-mutual friends, enhanced blocking tools to combat cyberbullying, and privacy settings like Ghost Mode to protect location data. Familiarizing themselves with these features can empower kids to navigate the platform more safely.

The Snapchat Family Center offers resources for parents, allowing them to monitor their child’s activity, including friend lists and recent interactions, while ensuring the content of private chats remains confidential. This involvement provides parents with insights into their child’s online interactions, fostering a trusting atmosphere where children feel comfortable discussing any concerns.

In the digital age, it is imperative for parents to actively engage with their children’s online activities. Such engagement not only aids in safeguarding children but also helps to cultivate a healthy dialogue about responsible social media use and its implications for mental health. Ultimately, in-depth involvement and proactive communication are fundamental for ensuring kids use Snapchat safely and responsibly.