Snapchat is a popular messaging app that allows you to send messages, photos and videos to other users. One of the main perks of the app is that photos and videos can (in most cases) only be seen once, for a limited amount of time. Snapchat is recommended for children aged 13 and over, and has an estimated 383 million daily users. Here are a selection of our top tips to keep your child safe, if you allow them to use this app.
- Set up snapchat with their actual age. This enables snapchat’s automatic safety features to be activated, that help limit unwanted contact from adults.
- Set rules around ‘friends’. Agree on who they can accept friend requests from and send messages to. A good rule of thumb is to only interact with people they know in real life. As, ‘online friends’ may not be who they say they are.
- Set rules around what’s okay to share. Make it clear what is private and personal, and shouldn’t be shared online. Even though some images and videos might only be viewable once, the receiver can easily screenshot.
- Know how to report users. If unwanted contact is received, whether messages or media, your child should know how to report it on snapchat and to a trusted adult. This can minimise online bullying.
- Discuss body image and feeling good. Apps like snapchat utilise filters, so you can change your appearance at a click of a button. Talk to your child about how these are not a real depiction of someone’s appearance.
- Explore the safety features together. Snapchat has a great range of safety features such as:
- Family centre: you can connect your account to theirs, to manage their activity.
- Ghost mode: enabling this stops other users from being able to see your child’s location.
- Default chat: this means only people you’re friends with can you send you messages.
