Snapchat: What parents should know

Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send images, videos and texts. The app offers extensive filters, effects, emojis and text options for image editing and allows users to customize the visibility of the files they send. The content disappears after the specified period of time unless the recipient takes screenshots or otherwise saves it.

In addition, users can create Snapchat stories that are visible for 24 hours and can only be viewed by friends or the entire Snapchat community, depending on the setting.

The age rating for Snapchat is 13 years (as of July 2023). People under the age of 18 require the consent of a parent or guardian to create an account. However, there is no reliable age verification.

In addition to the creative editing of images and videos, Snapchat is often used for sexting , i.e. sending revealing or erotic images. This behavior can be dangerous, as images and videos can be saved or restored despite the limited visibility.

Snapchat allows users to take photos and videos ("snaps") directly in the app or select them from the gallery. Depending on the setting, this content can be visible for up to ten seconds or added to the story, where it can be displayed for up to 24 hours. Snaps can also be shared on other social networks such as Instagram or WhatsApp . When chatting, users can send direct messages, video messages and group chats with up to 16 participants. The app is available both on mobile devices and via a web browser, making it a serious alternative to established messengers such as WhatsApp.

Snapchat uses emojis to evaluate friendships, which rate the exchange between two users. Particularly noteworthy is the flame symbol (Snapstreak), which indicates when two friends regularly exchange snaps, which stimulates users' playful ambition. The Memories function makes it possible to save and recombine snaps and add geofilters. Snapchat has evolved from an app for spontaneous pictures to a tool for comprehensive image editing.

The Snap Map shows the location of friends and allows users to share their own location. The Snap Map also shows local restaurants, cafés, stores, events and concerts and provides links to ticket purchases. Numerous options are available for editing, including 3D lenses that can change the appearance or surroundings during recording. Users can also create their own lenses, although there are risks associated with inappropriate content.

The Discover tab features content from influencers and media companies. The Spotlight function allows you to watch and share videos from other users. This content is moderated before publication. Snap Games allows users to play multiplayer games and chat live. Rewards such as coins or objects can be obtained by watching video ads. These games can incur additional costs. In Snapchat, users can buy virtual currency and gifts for creators, whereby the conversion masks the actual amount of money. The premium subscription Snapchat+ offers additional features, including detailed information about friends and the ability to monitor the locations of the last 24 hours.

Communication via Snapchat is designed to share spontaneous moments with other users. However, despite all the spontaneity, you should pause for a moment before sending and ask yourself whether you really want to make these photos available to others.

Above all, Snapchat should not be used to send candid pictures or videos. The possibilities offered by the app can also be used negatively. There is a high risk that files may be forwarded or posted online in order to blackmail or bully senders .

To use Snapchat safely, you should also make sure that strangers cannot send you any pictures or videos. In the settings, you can specify who can send you messages and view your story. Both settings should be set to "Friends". Friends are the people in your contact list. You should therefore only add people to your contact list that you actually know and trust.

However, if you are harassed by someone, Snapchat offers the option of blocking users. The Snapchat support page explains exactly how to do this step by step.

Snapchat Family Center

With the Snapchat Family Center, you as an adult can accompany young people aged 13 to 18 when using the app. This function allows you to:

• Getan overview of your child'slist of friends and recent conversations without seeing the exact message content.
• Report suspicious accounts.

You and your child can leave the Family Center at any time.

Location sharing "Snap Map"

The Snap Map feature allows users to track the current location of friends or share their own location. You can activate location sharing for all friends or only for selected people. To protect your child's privacy, you should activate ghost mode so that they cannot be found. It is generally advisable to deactivate location sharing to minimize potential risks.

Delete Snapchat account

To delete your Snapchat account, it is not enough to remove the app from your smartphone. You have to log in to the Snapchataccount portal https://accounts.snapchat.com/accounts/login?continue=https%3A%2F%2Faccounts.snapchat.com%2Faccounts%2Fdelete_account  with the login details for the app. There you can select the option "Delete my account". This is then initially deactivated for 30 days and will only be permanently deleted afterwards. Snapchat wants to offer the option of restoring the account.

Did you know, that there is also an Artificial Intelligence in your child's friends list with My AI? My AI, which means "My Artificial Intelligence", is the generative AI chatbot on Snapchat. The chatbot is based on ChatGPT and is used for chatting and simple research. It is a stripped-down version of ChatGPT that writes shorter texts and pretends to be a friend* on Snapchat. Without a paid Snapchat+ subscription, it is currently (August 2023) not possible to ban the chatbot from the top of the friends list or delete it completely. 

Make it clear to your child that My AI is a machine and that it is not communicating with a real human. As Snapchat itself writes, My AI is prone to errors. Information can be made up or facts can be mixed up to make answers seem plausible.