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Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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Original poster

WhatsApp or Snapchat?

9 replies

scarecrow22 · 14/06/2023 18:51

My 12yo is in y7. She has struggled to make friends - throughout primary too.

In the last couple of weeks she's started to hang out with first one girl, now a second. They seem lovely young ladies, especially kind.

The three girls and one other have suggests setting up a message group on one of the above platforms. I have so far said no to them - WhatsApp because she is underage, Snapchat because she has a history of being bullied and is not v mature about using even text messages.

But now I wonder if I should let go. Which platform would be better to agree to?

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DorritLittle · 14/06/2023 18:56

I would go with Whatapp.

CatsOnTheChair · 14/06/2023 18:59

Whatsapp is a million times easier to review what is going on.

icelollycraving · 14/06/2023 19:00

WhatsApp is what Ds uses, similar age.

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TakeMyStrongHand · 14/06/2023 19:22

WhatsApp is fine. Just monitor and ensure she knows not to message strangers.

Snapchat is hard as the messages disappear so you can't monitor what either party says. Hence their love for it.

SallyWD · 14/06/2023 19:24

WhatsApp is fine. I'd just keep an eye on messages to make sure there's no bullying going on. I feel like she'd miss out if she couldn't message friends on WhatsApp

Original poster

scarecrow22 · 15/06/2023 20:14

Thank you all for replying. It was generous of your time.

I too much prefer the idea of WhatsApp. But two questions:

I Snapchat as bad as it was - I hear you can stop messages being deleted - or is that just the sender?

How do you square lying to get a child an account? I don't see any reason WA is worse than text groups, but they are the rules....

Thanks again.

OP posts:

TakeMyStrongHand · 18/06/2023 16:52

Lying to who? The police aren't going to come and get you because someone under age has a WhatsApp account. WhatsApp don't really care, they just have to look like they do. It was raised to 16 due to data compliance with GDPR and the data they now collect. I've literally never given it a second thought.

Doesn't it sound preposterous that you can have sex and join a WhatsApp group at the same age?

However, you must monitor the contact received. This is so important.

henr545 · 19/09/2023 00:09

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Goodornot · 19/09/2023 00:13

Whatsapp is no better. It also has a disappearing message feature and you can just delete messages.

I'd tell her no to both.

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