Oh Snap, I guess It’s time to talk about snap chat. Ask any of my kids and they’ll tell you it’s my favorite app – Not!
Snapchat is an app that lets users send messages, pictures, and videos to each other. Recipients are able to view these messages for a set time before they disappear. Last year, Snapchat was making headlines for its popularity among teens. Now the messaging app is worth about $10 billion dollars. Its biggest competitor, Instagram, took notice and added a similar feature to its own website. But what is it about Snap Chat that appeals to young people? And what can parents do to help protect their kids from harm? In this article, I’ll explore why this app is so popular and I’ll share specific reasons why I’ve never allowed any of my minor age kids to use this app.
What is Snapchats appeal to teenagers
The Snapchat app has a specific audience: young people between the ages of 13 and 19 years old. The use of the app among this age group is much higher than its use by adults because younger people connect with their friends and peers through the app in a way that is very different from how an adult uses Snapchat.
Snapchat’s biggest selling point is that messages are temporary. The idea is that you message something to someone, they will see it for 10 seconds, then the snap disappears forever. This appeals to teens who are afraid of their parents or teachers seeing what they’re saying.
The Snapchat app is a camera with a messaging feature integrated into it. The messaging feature allows users to take photos and record short videos, apply creative visual effects, draw on their images and send them to friends. These messages can be viewed for a few seconds before they disappear.
Why I don’t like Snap Chat?
Since Snapchat’s inception in 2011, I have always had this app on my least liked messaging app and have never allowed my minor age kids to use this app. Please recognize that it’s not because I don’t trust my minor kids, I have great kids, I’ve just lived inside a teenage brain myself, and recall all the times I wasn’t able to think through all the consequences of my actions before acting. Listed below are my reasons for not allowing this app on my teen’s phones.
- It is easier for young kids to receive inappropriate content that can lead to cyberbullying, sexting, and other inappropriate online behavior
- There is a significant likelihood that snaps sent will be shared or screenshotted and distributed without consent, this has led to aggressive cyberbullying
- Because it’s temporary, teens can be easily tempted or peer pressured into sending inappropriate media by thinking it won’t be out there forever. Too many people fail to understand that once content leaves your phone there is no guarantee it will stay private.
- Snapchat has a location feature that uses GPS technology to tell you about your proximity to other users. This means the user’s location can easily be inferred.
- Many cases have also been documented where predators have used the app to target, stalk, and sexually exploit children.
One known case involved a juvenile court judge who was jailed for soliciting sex from young boys on Snapchat.
If you are okay with your kids using Snap Chat then it’s important for you to have candid conversations with your kids to ensure they understand that just because it claims messages are temporary that won’t always be the case, as anyone could screenshot and reshare the content.
It will also be important for you as the parent to know how it works and how easy it is to use. Make sure you download Snapchat or at least take a look at the interface so that you will be familiar with it when your teen starts to use it.
Sources: http://mashable.com/2014/03/28/snapchat-personal-info/#kCIeqdOAroq9 http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/09/11/teens-social-media-
