Snapchat dos and don'ts

[mikado1]

My DC 13 is getting a phone and has asked for Snapchat. We will have rules in place - no other SM, no phone after 8pm, no phone upstairs, regular checks etc. Can anyone help with keeping snap as safe as possible? Can you set it so messages are not disappearing? What do I need to look out for and avoid? His main use will be messaging his friends and having groups with sports team friends. So far he's a v open teen and we've prepped him for the last number of months on risks, expectations etc. without trying to pathologist phone use at the same time.

Anyone??
Having just downloaded onto his phone an entered name I see stories and spotlights are fairly inappropriate already... even tho he hasn't interacted once as yet on it. I've downloaded it also and no such suggestions on mine.

I think you can set up an account linked to a
parents account if you do it at the start. I don’t know how useful it is but of all the SM apps I think it is the worst!! And it’s the one they use all the time for calls and chats. WhatsApp is for communicating with old people I was told. Make sure he has location off on it and try and limit notifications. I wish I had known what I know now when I allowed my teens it.

parents.snapchat.com/parental-controls#:~:text=On%20Family%20Center%2C%20parents%20can,to%20help%20keep%20Snapchatters%20safe.

Me personally, I just wouldn’t have Snapchat. If he’s never had a phone before, it’s a huge leap from nothing to Snapchat. I would keep things very simple to start. Mine was allowed FaceTime and normal text messaging only for the first 6 months. Only then she was allowed WhatsApp. She’s allowed Snapchat when she’s 16. It’s tough if she doesn’t like it. I don’t feel confident that we can manage it in a way that keeps her safe. She has no other social media. She can use a browser with strict settings and play some games.

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-safety-blog/is-snapchat-safe-for-my-child/

Thanks for that. Yes I've gone into family centre. The spotlights and stories are completely unwanted, unnecessary etc. As you say, yes, this is what they're on for communication.. what do you wish you'd known? What would you have done differently tly?

Thanks all. Honestly, no I'm not a fan and I've told him anything can be undone if we decide not safe but I know the genuine motivation is texting friends. No browser for now, apps and parental links etc.

Thank you. What do you see as the main difference between what's app and snapchat? Is it the awful stories and spotlights, which are so unnecessary on snapchat?

My 14 yo is very anti-Snapchat, she knows from others what goes on there and know how easily open it is to inappropriate behaviour. I wouldn’t touch it at any age to be honest.

She has WhatsApp but that is on the condition it’s used with trusted friends only, which it is.

I'm a retired teacher. I wouldn't allow Snapchat. It's addictive and predators use it.

I've said elsewhere that I had two 13 yr old pupils whose 'pal' turned out to be a grown man.

What I don't like about Snapchat is the disappearing messages so there's no record of dodgy stuff they've been sent or interacted with.

My teens may be in the majority but all use WhatsApp with their friends.

It's a flat no for me. Designed specifically for messages to disappear which enables bullying.

Wrt disappearing messages, you can set it to keep for 24h so can keep an eye that way and you can see the last week's worth of communication ie who he's been texting.. I also have random and regular spot checks of phone as part of phone rules.. I'm also aware of friends of his whose parents think they don't have it that do, so I feel I'm better having it and keeping a v close eye..

With the family centre we have to ok each friend..

It's possible to use screen recording apps that copy snaps, or use emulators that circumvent any app restrictions.

I learned the hard way that it's not safe. I was too young when I was having men trying to get nudes from me on snap, some of them succeeding. Other girls got into a lot more trouble.