{"id":23213,"date":"2020-01-22T11:25:59","date_gmt":"2020-01-22T19:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=23213"},"modified":"2022-04-13T12:25:09","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T20:25:09","slug":"how-to-monitor-snapchat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/how-to-monitor-snapchat\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Keeping Your Child Safe on Snapchat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you have kids who are on Snapchat, you\u2019ve probably taken a selfie or two with animated puppy-dog ears<\/a>. Snapchat invented this fun photo filter and is one of the most popular<\/a> online platforms for teenagers. And while filters are certainly fun, some of its features can be unsafe. The following tips will help you monitor Snapchat so you can better protect your child\u2019s privacy and safety while they are using the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Review Your Child\u2019s Snapchat Friends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Snapchat is built around sharing disappearing photos, or snaps, with friends. In real life, you might want to meet a new friend before your child sleeps over at their house. Online, you should verify that your child\u2019s Snapchat friends are people they really know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Snapchat friends can see your Snap story, or a picture or video that is posted for 24 hours. Friends can also text within the app and contribute to group messages, photos and videos. You can add friends<\/a> from your contacts, using the search function or via Snapcode, a QR code. With all of these options, your child could easily add someone they don\u2019t know as a Snapchat friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they aren\u2019t careful about who they accept as a friend, your child could share their exact location with someone they don\u2019t know. Snap Map allows users to share locations with friends in real time. This is why checking out their Snapchat friends<\/a> is an important step. If you don\u2019t recognize someone\u2019s Snapchat name, look it up on Spokeo<\/a> to search for their identity. Most people use the same handle on multiple social networks, so if Spokeo can’t find the name on Snapchat, it might be able to find their identity from other networks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If someone is sending messages or harassing your child, you can delete and block them in the Snapchat settings. You can also report any safety concerns<\/a> within the app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is TikTok Safe? What Parents Should Know About the Popular App<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monitor Your Child\u2019s Snapchat Settings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Snapchat, you can control whether only friends or the general public can see your story and send you Snaps by configuring settings under \u201cWho Can\u2026.\u201d We also recommend talking with your child about a few specific Snapchat features to ensure their safety and privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Story<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Beyond posting images to your own story, you can also submit content to Our Story. This feature curates stories from around the world and shares them publicly. This exposes your child\u2019s story and even their location to the public. Check your child\u2019s location-sharing settings<\/a> on their phone to make sure you are comfortable with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discover<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Discover is a stream of content from news outlets, celebrities and other users outside your child\u2019s friend list. Snapchat filters out some mature content based on a user\u2019s age, so make sure your child\u2019s information is entered accurately in settings. And be aware that Discover has external links to marketing surveys or ads, which appear for users of all ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snapchat Scores<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve probably heard your child brag about their Snapchat Score, but what is it? Snapchat awards you a point for every Snap you send and receive, adding up to your Snapchat score<\/a>. You have to open received Snaps for the point, encouraging you to urgently open every Snap before it disappears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snapstreaks<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Snapstreaks are exchanges between two friends three days in a row. After the first few days, emoji will appear to remind you to keep the streak going. Kids can develop an emotional connection to continuing Snapstreaks because they view them as a measure of friendship<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lay Some Snapchat Ground Rules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Think Before You Snap<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Though the fun of Snapchat lies in its disappearing images, your child should know that these photos aren\u2019t really temporary. A friend could take a screenshot of their image, which they can store on their phone, share or post somewhere else online. Usually when this happens, your child will get a notification. But there are also ways to take screenshots<\/a> without sending a notification. You can sit down with your child and talk to them about images that aren\u2019t appropriate for sharing, no matter the venue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set Limits for Use<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Like most social media platforms, Snapchat is designed for you to spend as much time on the app as possible. Several features \u2014 like the Snapstreaks and Snapchat scores discussed above \u2014 reward users every time they use the app. While not necessarily dangerous, these features can distract kids from other responsibilities and suck up their time. Who would want to spend time on their homework when you can earn points to Face Swap with a classmate? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So sit down with your child and discuss how much time they are spending on the app (exact usage time<\/a> can be found in their phone\u2019s settings), and negotiate a time limit that both of you are comfortable with. Then, keep them accountable by installing time limits and rewarding them for sticking to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you ultimately decide you aren\u2019t comfortable with your child using the app, follow these directions for how to delete Snapchat<\/a>. Got more questions? Read more of our tips for keeping your kids safe online<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Katrina Ballard is a communications manager at a social policy research organization in Washington, D.C. She holds a master\u2019s degree in public administration from American University.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

References<\/h3>\n\n\n\n