Snapchat

Snapchat Quick Reference Guide

Quick Reference Guide	Yes	No	Comments
Access to Camera (device camera)
Access to Contacts (on the device)
Access to Photo Gallery (on the device)
Anonymous Posting (posting without a username or other identifiers)
Business Accounts (used for business)
Chat Function (public)
Clear History Function
Collects User's Information
Connect with Strangers (ability to)
Cyberbullying Opportunities
Death Themes and/or Dark Content/Imagery/References			"Solve" is a channel on Snapchat where you "can solve a murder" by watching episodes
Designed to be Purposefully Deceptive
Direct Messaging (private)
Disappearing Messaging/Images
Drug/Alcohol/Vaping/Tobacco/Imagery			There are links to “news” stories from “Publishers” in the Discover section.
Eating Disorder Content/Imagery/References
Emoji Search (search content with emoji’s like keywords or hashtags)
Established Accounts Available for Purchase Online			You can purchase “boosts” for your Snap Score on eBay. This requires you give the seller access to your account (password) so they can “boost” your score.
Firearms Content/Imagery/References			People will post "snaps" of firearms.
Graphic Content (images of death, car crashes etc.)
Graphic Content Warning (blurring graphic content before viewing)			Sponsored ads may contain graphic content or lead you to graphic content.
Group Chat Function
Group Video Chatting
Hashtag Use (uses hashtags as a search/directory)
Hidden Photo Vault			“My Eyes Only” in Memories. Password protected.
Hidden Web Browser
Image Sharing
Live Streaming Function			Currently only available for it’s publishing partners. Not available for users as of this time.
Location Dependent Services (must use location for it to function)
Location Services Enabling
Login with Facebook
Marketing (sponsored content)			From publishing partners. Examples: Seventeen, Vice, The Washington Post, People, NBC News
“Memories” (from past posts)
Mental Health Content/Imagery/References
Nudity (without clothes, no sexual acts)			Nudity is not part of Snapchat's content. As with any messaging platform, users may choose to send nude content to each other or on a “story.”
Offline Functionality (can be accessed without WiFi/cell service)			Users can take pictures and store them within Snapchat and then can send them once they are connected to WiFi or data.
Original Content (shows, news, movies)			Some current shows by Snapchat: Deep Creek, Endless Summer, The Dead Girls Detective Agency, and Growing up Drag.
Password Protected (beyond account password)
Photo Filters and Editing
Pornography (Refer to sexualized content)			Pornography posts are not part of Snapchat's content. It could be shared or posted by users.
Privacy Settings (able to set account as private)
Purchases, In-App, for Sponsored Content (unrelated to the app)
Purchases, In-App, Provided by the App (app related products)			There are many Snapchat products for sale within the app.
Reporting Functions (report bullying, inappropriate content)
Scoring System (trophies, points, rewards etc.)
Screen Recording Notification
Screenshot Notifications “Stories”
Screenshot Notifications Pictures/Videos
Search Function (content within the app)
Self-Injury Content
Self-Promotion (for popularity or marketing)
Sexual Accounts Accessible by Purchase			WatchMyFeed is the current site where account access can be purchased.
Sexualized Content (sexual acts, pictures, or videos)
“Stories” Posts
Suicide Content			Suicide posts are not part of Snapchat's content. It could be shared or posted by users.
Upgradable (for more content or to remove ads)
Video Chatting
Video Sharing
Violence
Voice Chatting
Web Browsing (build into the app)

NOTE: Content levels are subjective based upon the reviewer’s experiences with the app.

Snapchat Content Guide

Content Levels	Low	Moderate	High	N/A	Notes
Drug/Alcohol Content/Posts/Imagery					There are some “news” stories in the Discovery section that discuss marijuana.
Eating Disorder Topics/Content/Posts/Discussion/Imagery
Graphic Content (images of death, car crashes etc.)
Mental Health Content
Nudity					Nudity is not part of Snapchats content. As with any messaging platform, users may choose to send nude content to each other or on a “story.”
Self-Injury Content
Sexualized Topics/Content/Posts/Imagery					Sexual “Publisher Stories” can be found in the Discovery section. Search the word “sex” in the Discover section.
Suicide Topics/Content/Posts/Discussion
Vaping Topics/Content/Posts/Imagery					There are some “news” stories in the Discovery section that discuss vaping.
Violence					Depending on who you follow, you may be able to see violent content posted,

While Snapchat has a deceptive feel to it due to the disappearing messaging function, the messages/pictures/videos are not always inappropriate. Setting expectations and discussing behaviors for using the app is very important as a parent. Snapchat itself isn’t dangerous, but a youth posting risky content could turn into a dangerous situation.

If youth have not been exposed to sexualized content, drugs, and mental health topics before Snapchat, there is a high potential for them to be exposed after they create a Snapchat account. If you have had prevention discussions around these topics, then you might feel more comfortable letting your 13-year-old use Snapchat.

Discuss help-seeking strategies with your youth such as what do to if they see someone posting about mental health issues, depression, self-harm, or suicide. Teach them to use the reporting functions built into Snapchat and to keep an open line of communication with you as the parent. Teach them how to report and block users that post inappropriate content or who are bullying your child.

There are “Publisher Stories” about sex available. You should be prepared for your kids to see these as it’s easy to stumble upon and kids are curious about sex at that age. Talk to your children about not posting sexual or provocative content. Teach them about self-esteem based upon the content of their character, not the appearance of their body.  As of today, a search of the word “sex” in the Discover section resulted in these Publisher Stories: “Your Biggest Sex Questions Answered” (Teen Vogue), “We Asked Sex Workers About Their First Days on the Job” (Vice), and “7 Hookup Secrets Sex Therapists Want You to Know” (Cosmopolitan).

Adult Snapchat accounts can be accessed through a purchase. As of this writing, you can search WatchMyFeed and find accounts that will, for a fee, allow you access to sexually explicit Snapchat accounts. The fees are monthly and some are available for purchase for a year. Fees range from $14-$60 a month and around $99 for a year’s access.

Be aware of multiple accounts as well. Youth will sometimes have a well-curated appropriate account that you know of, but will also have other accounts where questionable behaviors will occur.

Snapchat Safety Tips:

My #1 recommendation: If you are going to let your child have a Snapchat account, you should have an account as well so that you can effectively educate them on how to use it responsibly.

Here are some other suggestions:

• Do not use full names as usernames.
• Set the account to private. Here is how to set the privacy settings.
• Only accept followers of people they know in person.
• Remove any unknown followers that they currently have.
• Do not post personal information such as drivers license, school ID’s, state ID’s, phone numbers, birth certificates, school schedules, and other identifying information.
• Turn off location services.
• Use the reporting system when they see inappropriate content. Here is how to report content.
• Talk to a parent if they see a concerning post from a friend (mental health, bullying, inappropriate posts).
• Report bullying both through Snapchat’s reporting function and to a parent.
• Save screenshots of bullying behaviors.
• Block bullies.
• Stick with the age restrictions.
• Snapchat keeps a “Snapchat Score” based upon how the user uses the app. Some youth may become overly focused on their score. Ask you kids what their “Snapchat score” is. Keep an eye on this. It will help you understand how much they are using the app.
• Even though an account is private, privacy isn’t guaranteed. Once a post is shared it is totally out of the users’ control.
• A digital reputation begins the moment an account is opened. What they post now could affect them later in life.
• I would not recommend children less than 13 use Snapchat even though the current app rating is 12+.

~ Ryan

Snapchat is a multi-functional application, enabling users to be able to send pictures, text messages, video chat, voice call, use funny filters, play games, follow other users and view their posts, as well as post their own images and videos to their followers all in one place. This is a lot of content that can be found on a single application, and the concept that draws most of users to the app is that everything completely disappears once it is sent and viewed. This is the falsehood that causes most people to abuse Snapchat and get themselves into trouble. Just like any other app, make sure your child is aware that the messages that they send can easily be retrieved, screenshotted, or saved by other people.

The app is not equipped with heavy privacy settings, as anyone who has your child’s account username can request to follow them. I suggest encouraging them to not put their Snapchat username in the bio of any other account that they might have, such as Instagram. Depending upon how they set their “who can…” in their “settings,” if someone were to get their username, they could add your child as a friend without any ability to accept or decline. If your child does not add the account back, then the unknown user has no way of contacting them on private messages, only viewing their public stories. In this case, I would highly suggest blocking the unknown user so that no contact can be made, as well as changing the “Who Can Contact Me” feature in settings to “Friends Only.”

Snapchat also does not allow any account to be logged in on more than one device, making parents incapable of monitoring the application while their child uses it. Because of this feature, I would definitely suggest making your own account and following your child so that you can at least view their public stories. Your child has the capability to block you from seeing their story using the “Custom” button under “Who Can View My Story” in the app settings, so you may want to check your child’s account to make sure they don’t utilize this feature.

Ultimately, this app gives the user high amounts of privacy that can easily be taken advantage of. It is a very fun way to communicate with friends and stay connected with your peers, but if you cannot trust your child or feel that they are not yet mature enough to use the app appropriately, this is definitely not the app for them. As a guideline, I would suggest the minimum age that you allow your child to use Snapchat be at least fourteen. You have to know that your child can make positive decisions independently, as the application truly gives them an amount of freedom and privacy that is refreshing and fun, but can easily be taken to extremes.

~ Katie K., 12th grade

About Katie:

Katie is a senior at Penn-Trafford High School. She first began using social media in fifth grade when she made an Instagram account the same year that the app was first launched. Since then, she has witnessed the program transform into what it is today, and has experienced both the good and bad that has come along with it. Katie has always practiced safe social media habits and is now sharing her experiences to help younger users understand the importance of protecting themselves online.