That said, when used responsibly, Snapchat can be a positive outlet for older kids to explore their creativity and connect with friends. If you decide your kids are ready for an account, it's a good idea to have ongoing conversations about how they're using the platform and how it's making them feel.
Common Sense Media rates Snapchat OK for teens 16 and up, mainly because of the exposure to age-inappropriate content and the marketing ploys, such as quizzes, that collect data.
Children and young people could be at risk of viewing harmful or upsetting video content and images. Snapchat Map shares your location with other users on the app. Your child could receive unwanted contact from adults or other young people using the app.
What is Snapchat's minimum age? Like many other social networks, the minimum age to use Snapchat is 13 years old.
What age is TikTok recommended for? Common Sense recommends the app for age 15+ mainly due to the privacy issues and mature content. TikTok requires that users be at least 13 years old to use the basic TikTok features, although there is a way for younger kids to access the app.
It allows them to browse through Snapchat profiles of other singles or communicate with potential dating prospects in a fun, unique way. Another benefit to using Snapchat is "secret" communication with people your partner is not aware of.
AirDroid Parental Control is an app that many parents use to monitor their children's activities on Android devices, especially Snapchat. It has user-friendly features for protecting safety and helping children build healthy digital habits.
The reason your parents might not want you to have Snapchat is because of the stories from media outlets such as MTV and Buzzfeed. Your parents might be worried about inappropriate content showing up on these stories. Promise to not watch these stories if you get Snapchat.
If they're 13 or older, they get the regular Snapchat experience with the ability to add friends and share images for 10 seconds or less. If they're under 13 they get the kids' version that allows them to take snaps, draw on them and save them locally on the device. If you're under 13 you automatically get KidzSnap.
Snapchat is restricted to users over the age of 13. If children under the age of 13 sign up for an account they are given access to 'SnapKidz' which is a limited version of Snapchat that doesn't allow images to be sent to other devices.
Snapchat is fun to use. The filters, the lenses, the ability to swap faces, adding funny captions to photos, and just enjoying laughing with your friends is good fun. Some of the things people come up with are laugh out loud funny.
Snapchat was initially focused on private, person-to-person photo sharing, but you can now use it for a range of asks, including sending videos, live video chatting, messaging, creating caricature-like Bitmoji avatars, and sharing a chronological “story” that's broadcasted to all your followers.
Yes, Snapchat is safer than Instagram. But this does not mean that inappropriate content can not make its way into a users' Snaps. Whether it is Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram, the dangers of social media will always be there. The best thing to do is reduce screen time and apply parental control if needed.
Red flag: Being 'too into' Instagram
Additionally, 80% said that someone being too into Snapchat is a red flag. Not only might it signal that the person is self-absorbed, but it also creates more opportunities to flirt and cheat, users said.
Snapchat can provide a fun, low-pressure platform with many flirting opportunities. There are many ways to flirt, so the most fundamental thing to remember is to be true to yourself and not be afraid to put yourself out there.
52.9% of Snapchat Users Worldwide Are Female
Females dominate the Snapchat platform, making up 52.9% of its users and the remaining are male.
How Social Networks Affect Users' Moods. According to the study, 95% of Snapchat users say the app makes them feel happy, more than any other app tested. Facebook and Twitter make users feel anxious, isolated, overwhelmed, lonely, and even depressed.
The dissatisfaction may lead to a number of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and many more. Another issue with Snapchat is cyberbullying. Unfortunately, it is not so rare among teens, plus it makes it more difficult to trace since all of the Snapchat posts disappear very quickly.
Zigazoo, the startup known for its TikTok-style video-sharing app for kids, is launching a separate app targeted at Gen Z users.
“Ten to 12 is a great range because kids are still very connected to their parents and into their parents being in their phone and in their business,” says Catherine Pearlman, a licensed clinical social worker and author of “First Phone,” a guide for kids.