To not allow my son to have snapchat

[Socialmediamum]

Or rather should that be ‘tell me why I shouldn’t allow them to have Snapchat’

My eldest is 13 and apparently aaallll his friends have it and I’m the world strictest parent. I’ve allowed WhatsApp as I use it myself and I appreciate they all have groups to chat about Fortnite, school etc. I keep an eye on the chats and if they are all using Snapchat they certainly seem to still spend a lot of time on WhatsApp 🙄 We’ve set it so he can’t be added to groups without ok-ing it etc. But I feel I am getting a bit lost with my argument on saying no to Snapchat.

I don’t like the idea of disappearing messages (but they have that now on WhatsApp), I don’t want them to be trackable or contacted by people they don’t know but according to them this can all be prevented in settings. So am I missing something? I hear horror stories of bullying on Snapchat but is it actually different to WhatsApp? I think they have message streaks to encourage messaging which isn’t great but then they’d message certain friends daily anyway.

Regardless I obviously know I am the parent and while I don’t want them to have access to all social media and so am controlling it for that reason (they also don’t have TikTok, Instagram etc although are allowed a short amount of YouTube time) and what I say goes, I’d like to be able to make a better argument and also ask if I am being unreasonable to say no and should just allow it!

btw it’s not even a discussion for my younger son but anything the eldest does will eventually pave the way!

I am a youth worker. I wouldn't let any under 18 have it. It's the scariest app. We've been trained on Snapchat for years and I have refused to let my teen have it. Never. Stay firm.

My child of a similar age doesn't have it or any other social media and I don't intend to allow it at any time soon. Friends kids have been bullied through snapchat. www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-safety-blog/is-snapchat-safe-for-my-child/

I wouldn’t let mine have it until 16. Even if you select “hide location” that is readily by passed, leading to “I know where you live “ threats. Disappearing messages are scary too, and it’s full of fake profiles ime.

Can you explain why? I feel like no good can come from it but want to articulate myself better when having yet another argument about it 😄

It's so anonymous. You add people based on seeing where they are so you don't need phone numbers. You can keep photos and videos so lots of the porn circulating is from kids who think it can't be kept.

Not a chance in hell until 16+ for my kids. I’ve explained my reasons to them (what @FFSgetagripoldlady says, basically) and see it as a good lesson in why “because everyone else is doing it” is never a good reason.

My sons have it. They are 12 and 14. They only add people they know in person, no friends of friends for instance. They use it to message as a group and send pictures to each other. Neither use WhatsApp really other than family group chats.

Sorry, OP, to hijack your thread, but does anyone know how I actually block apps, like Snapchat, on an iphone?

I don't allow any social media, but when dh was transferring dd's account over when setting up a new device, he managed to take the parental controls off 🙄and then she went for a sleepover at a friends and they downloaded snapchat and tiktok. I've deleted them, but because they've already been downloaded once, she can easily add them back. I can't seem to permanently get rid of them anymore. I can block all apps that are 13+ but that blocks lots of things. I just want to block individual apps and I can't seem to work out how to do it.

I asked the same a while back for my 15 year old and came back a resounding no for lots of reasons from different posters. Mine still don't have snap chat.

Stick to your guns. Don’t allow Snapchat

My 13 year old daughter won’t be getting it anytime soon.

it was a large part of my counter-terror PREVENT training.

Not to mention county lines gangs.

Stand firm

I work in a prison. Snapchat is the work of the devil!

The only advice I can give is to set up parental controls and delete the apps you’re not happy with. Then change the App Store option to ‘do not allow new apps’. This removes the app tile until you reactivate the ability to add new apps.

Stand your ground.

Snapchat has a tik tok-type reel thing that shows short videos. The first few I saw when I downloaded Snapchat all had teens swearing in them. And this was without any algorithms—I had literally just joined the app!

I have 2 dds 12 & 14 and there is no way on earth they are getting Snapchat. My 14 year old asked me to explain to her friends why not and they were like right fair enough!!

That doesn’t work for apps that have previously been downloaded, because they aren’t new.

Apologies for reactivating this thread,

Is there no way to use snapchat in a safe manner if you hide your location and only have your very best friends there and limited the time they use it.

Why such a dangerous app is allowed? Why there are no controls?

My DD is only ten but we don’t allow it. Hate the fact that messages disappear. She isn’t allowed WA either tbf

The way round that is to restrict the App Store from being used - 1 min a day

Gaaah zombie thread

Just found this while searching for answers. I could have written this post word for word. Tears and tantrums every day from my 13 year old who thinks I'm ruining his life not allowing Snapchat. OP did you allow it in the end?

We did allow it in the end from year 9 but with time restrictions via Qustodio and an agreement on not sharing location other than with us etc. To be honest it’s been fine but I would prefer him not to have it and just have WhatsApp to be honest!