10 Bad Things About Snapchat: Negative Effects on Teens & Kids
Attention, parents and guardians of the digital age!
Peering over your child's shoulder, have you ever felt like you stumbled upon cryptic hieroglyphs?
If so, chances are, you've encountered Snapchat.
This wildly popular messaging app, known for its self-destructing messages and alluringly cute filters, has a few not-so-cute side effects.
We're pulling back the curtain on the 10 Bad Things About Snapchat.
Intrigued? Concerned? Downright terrified? Good.
Discover Snapchat's less-than-glamorous impact on our youth as we delve into its digital rabbit hole.
10 Bad Things About Snapchat
Here are 10 problems lurking behind those cute puppy dog filters, so let's embark on a revealing journey.
#1. Privacy Issues
Among Snapchat's privacy concerns is the fact that recipients of messages can save images and videos without the sender's permission.
The app may transmit users' location and collect contact information from address books without consent, and the “Find Friends” feature has been hacked in the past, leading to a data breach of 4.6 million usernames and phone numbers.
Furthermore, users are concerned about the app's new chatbot “My AI”, which is perceived to know too much personal information and even lies when asked.
#2. Cyberbullying and Harassment
Cyberbullying and harassment on Snapchat is a prevalent issue, with approximately 69 percent of kids experiencing it, making it the second-highest platform for such instances, after YouTube's 79 percent.
The victim faces severe emotional distress when rumors are spread, threats are sent, and humiliating photos are posted online.
#3. Inappropriate Content
Despite Snapchat's supposed measures to protect young users, inappropriate content, including sexual interactions, is commonly shared and viewed by children on the platform.
According to Thorn, approximately 16 percent of children report encountering online sexual interactions on Snapchat, raising the possibility of such harmful behavior being prevented with better safeguards.
#4. Deceptive Features
Deceptive Snapchat features are the features that can help users create fake content that mislead their Snapchat friends and followers by changing their appearances and locations.
On social media, false and misleading information could be spread.
#5. Addiction and Screen Time
Social anxiety over missing out on real-time social connections and impaired offline interactions may be associated with Snapchat withdrawal symptoms and cyberspace-oriented relationships.
A specific measurement and intervention are needed to prevent excessive social networking use.
#6. Lack of Control
Even though there are now monitoring apps that let you keep an eye on your kids and teens, not everyone uses them. Moreso, not everyone knows about the existence of these tracking apps.
Related: uMobix Review
#7. Disappearing Content
Disappearing content can lead to the spread of harmful and inappropriate content on Snapchat, as users may feel emboldened to share content they may not want to be associated with long-term.
It is also difficult for authorities to identify and hold accountable those responsible for sharing illegal or harmful content because there is no permanence.
#8. Geolocation Risks
Due to Snapchat's geotagging feature, geolocation risks are particularly concerning for Snapchat users.
Users can use this feature to add location-specific filters to their snaps, but viewing their posts will reveal their exact location as well.
Users can be stalked and preyed upon by stalkers and predators, or burglars can target empty homes with this information.
Users can also see the exact location of their friends on a map, thanks to Snapchat's “Snap Map” function, which may be concerning for those who do not always want their friends to be aware of their whereabouts.
Snapchat users should understand geolocation's potential risks and protect their privacy when using the app.
#9. Stranger Danger
Using social media apps such as Snapchat poses this serious concern.
Snapchat users are at risk of cyberbullying, identity theft, and physical harm because they have easy access to strangers with malicious intentions.
Whenever interacting with strangers online, users should maintain a cautious approach and avoid sharing personal information or engaging in risky behaviors.
Snapchat should also be monitored by parents and caregivers, including setting privacy settings and checking for signs of inappropriate or concerning behavior on other social media sites.
#10. Peer Pressure
In peer pressure, individuals are influenced to conform to a particular behavior or attitude by their peers.
Students may share inappropriate photos or videos of themselves or their peers due to peer pressure on Snapchat.
For some teenagers, social media pressure can create low self-esteem, anxiety, and mental health problems.
Additionally, the anonymous nature of Snapchat encourages users to behave in ways they might not otherwise, as the fleeting nature of photos and videos can make users feel invincible to consequences.
Safeguarding Your Child on Snapchat: Tips to Help Keep Your Child Safe on Snapchat
Let's equip ourselves with the right tools and knowledge to ensure our children's safety on Snapchat now that we've walked through its dark alleys.
For your child's safety on Snapchat, follow these tips:
Communication and Education
When it comes to keeping your children safe while they use Snapchat, communication and education are the most effective strategies.
To help their children make safer and smarter choices while using Snapchat, parents should talk to their children openly and honestly about the potential dangers of Snapchat.
Parental education is also recommended so they know what the app offers and how they can protect their children.
Parents who help their children stay safe and have a positive Snapchat experience can build trust and foster a constructive dialog with them.
Privacy Settings
To keep your child safe on Snapchat, you must be able to control who can contact them, view their location, and see their content.
By choosing ‘My Friends’ as the option for ‘Who Can Contact Me’ and ‘Who Can View My Story,’ parents can limit contact with unknown individuals and protect their child’s online presence.
Additionally, the ‘Activity Indicator’ option can be turned off to prevent others from seeing when your child was last active on the app.
Friends List Management
Snapchat's Friend List Management allows users to control who can view their private Stories and Charms.
The online safety and privacy of children can be protected by removing inappropriate or unknown friends from social media platforms.
It is recommended that parents regularly monitor their child's friend list and encourage them to only add trusted friends and family members.
Reporting and Blocking
In order to keep their child safe on Snapchat, parents should report and block unwanted content or persons.
To ensure a safe Snapchat experience for their children, parents can report any abusive content or users and block those who make them feel uncomfortable.
You can report snaps, profiles, accounts, chat messages, and stories via the Snapchat app, as well as block, report, and remove other users.
Parents can also hide offensive content or products in ‘Discover', and prevent unwanted contact through the “Who Can…” section in app's settings.
Snapchat Safeguards for Teens
Let us shift our focus to the safeguards and protective measures teens can employ to ensure a safer and more enjoyable Snapchat experience.
Age Verification
For teens on Snapchat, age verification is a vital safeguard, as users must be at least 13 years old.
Nevertheless, without a reliable age verification system, it is all too easy for underage users to create accounts and potentially interact with inappropriate content.
Snapchat must explore more robust age verification measures if it truly cares about teen safety.
Privacy Features for Teens
Among the privacy features that Snapchat offers for teens, parents can restrict who can contact them, view their story or location, enable Ghost Mode for location sharing, and prevent young users from creating public profiles as part of their overall safety measures.
Additionally, Snapchat has in-app warnings for minors who add non-contacts or mutual friends. It also turns off the Snap Map location-sharing tool by default.
Teens using the platform are protected by these safeguards.
Community Guidelines
Users, particularly teens, can feel safe with Snapchat's Community Guidelines, which prohibit sexual exploitation, bullying or harassment, violence, and spreading false information that can cause harm.
Reporting Tools
Users can report unsafe or inappropriate behavior using Snapchat's reporting tools.
Snaps, stories, profiles, accounts, and chat messages that violate Snapchat's guidelines can be reported using these tools.
Minors can make these confidential reports without the need for a Snapchat account, thus providing an extra layer of protection.
This tool set demonstrates Snapchat's commitment to safeguarding the safety of all its users.
How to Change Snapchat's Safety Settings
- Access the Profile settings and tap on the gear icon.
- Navigate to the “Privacy Controls” section by scrolling down.
- Making a Selection.
- Save your choice by tapping the back button.
Promoting Responsible Use of Snapchat
Snapchat's responsible use is equally as important as our security measures.
Snapchat's safety and overall experience can be greatly enhanced when handled responsibly in the following areas.
Open Communication
Having a transparent and honest conversation about Snapchat's appropriate use refers to open communication.
Youth will be able to use technology more responsibly as a result of this.
Social media, including Snapchat, can be used safely and responsibly with open communication between parents and educators.
As well, instead of simply setting rules or restricting social media use, having open and honest discussions with young people can help them develop critical thinking skills and make more informed decisions online.
Setting Time Limits
Using Snapchat responsibly requires setting time limits, as setting limits helps individuals avoid excessive engagement and stay mindful of their social media usage.
In addition to leading to addiction and anxiety, prolonged social media use can also lead to decreased productivity.
Snapchat offers several built-in features for setting time limits, such as the “Timer” which allows users to set a time between 1 to 10 seconds for their photos to appear on the receiver's screen and the “Do Not Disturb” mode which temporarily disables notifications during set times.
Snapchat users can engage with Snapchat responsibly and in a healthy way with the help of these tools.
Monitoring Your Child's Activity
Snapchat and other social media platforms require parents to monitor their children's activity.
Due to the app's ephemeral nature and the ability to share sensitive content, parents should monitor their children's interactions to prevent cyberbullying, sexting, and inappropriate exposure.
Safeguarding their children's privacy while balancing parental controls, monitoring apps, and open communication are all tools parents can use.
Encouraging Positive Interactions
Encouraging positive interactions as a way to promote responsible Snapchat use has to do with creating a culture of kindness and respect amongst users, which can reduce cyberbullying and negative behavior on the platform.
An app that supports positivity and inclusion can foster a more welcoming social environment.
As part of digital citizenship education and resources, users can also be empowered to make informed decisions and prioritize responsible behaviors.
The more positive interactions you encourage with Snapchat, the safer and more enjoyable the experience will be.
Identifying Warning Signs
Identifying warning signs on Snapchat refers to recognizing and understanding the indications that could potentially harm the users’ well-being and safety when using the app.
Monitoring Snapchat interactions involves keeping an eye out for sudden changes in behavior or inappropriate or threatening messages.
A Snapchat user who is familiar with warning signs can stay informed and prevent any negative effects on their online experience.
Among those potentially harmful situations are cyberbullying, sexting, catfishing, and graphic images.
Parents and children can also discuss how to use Snapchat responsibly and safely with this knowledge.
The Power of Parental Involvement
Monitoring your child's activity on Snapchat is important as a parent.
Children have a positive and safe web experience when parents engage them in online activities, communicate openly, and set boundaries.
Embracing Technology Safely
As our children use Snapchat, it is pertinent to equip them with the knowledge and tools to navigate the social media platform responsibly.
As part of this process, open dialogue is promoted, privacy settings are protected, time is managed, and interactions are monitored, all while encouraging positive engagement and being alert to potential warning signs.
Conclusion
While Snapchat may offer teens and kids a fun and engaging platform, it is not without challenges.
As we've explored, there are, at least, 10 things about Snapchat that can negatively impact our youth – from the addictive nature of the platform to privacy concerns, potential exposure to inappropriate content, and the overall toll on mental health.
Young users need to be guided responsibly through this social media landscape by parents and educators armed with knowledge and understanding.
Using technology safely, positively, and beneficially for all is the goal, not demonizing it.
