Skip to main content

Should I let my kid use Snapchat? Experts say it depends

How to decide when to let your kids use this social media app

teen-using-snapchat
Maskot / Getty Images

One of the most pressing dilemmas facing many parents today is, what age should they let their kids use Snapchat, or any other form of social media, for that matter. Although it’s been around for a few years, many parents wonder if Snapchat is safe for kids. It seems that kids are using these social media messaging apps younger and younger. Social media has become a huge part of all our lives, but it can also be difficult to navigate safely.

Snapchat is a popular mobile app that allows the user to send snaps — pictures, text, or video — to another user. The allure of Snapchat is that these messages are only available for a limited time and then they disappear. Snapchat has evolved over the years to include stories and a discovery area that is basically a newsfeed, but it’s still a way for kids to message each other privately. Because these conversations are deleted after a short period of time, is Snapchat safe for kids?

Many parents struggle with the safety of this app for this reason. Parents are the best judge of what their child is ready for, but many experts have weighed in and given their professional advice.

Top view of 3 tween girls looking at their smartphones
Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images

Is Snapchat a child-friendly app?

Snapchat, like many social media apps, does list an age requirement in its terms of service stating that no one younger than 13 years old should have an account. Statistics show that over 290 million people use Snapchat daily, and a lot of them are tweens and teens, despite the app’s age limit. In fact, a recent study showed that 82% of U.S. teens use Snapchat at least once a month while 36% say it is their favorite social media platform. This was before the TikTok boom, but it still stands to reason that many kids are still using Snapchat.

While Snapchat certainly allows kids to socialize with their peers and remain connected with friends — something that became incredibly important during the coronavirus pandemic when kids were literally isolated from their peers — it can also pose some security risks. Joy Altimare, chief engagement and brand officer of EHE Health, explained to Parents that the app can be both positive and negative for kids. “While it can be pure, innocent fun for you and your children, without proper supervision, it can lead to dire results,” she said.

A child on a cellphone while their parents sit next to them.
bbernard / Shutterstock

Can Snapchat be monitored by parents?

Unfortunately, Snapchat can’t be monitored in the same way other social media apps like Instagram can be because there is no ‘feed’ that you can scroll through. Snapchat does have some parental controls built in, like allowing you to set your child’s account to ‘private’ and applying different filters that will determine the content they will see, but that’s it. There are some third-party apps, many outlined by Parental Control Now, that you can install on your child’s phone that will allow you to monitor what your child is sending and receiving on Snapchat.

teens looking at phone together
Maskot / Getty Images

What can parents do if their child asks for Snapchat?

Angela Karanja, an adolescent psychologist and founder of Raising Remarkable Teenagers tells us “It’s important that parents take charge of the gadgets and monitor what their kids are doing and watching whilst still promoting, introducing, enabling, and allowing freedom.” She says there’s a line that parents must draw when it comes to allowing their kids on social media. “Parents don’t necessarily have to refuse them to go on these platforms, but they can begin to walk alongside their kids, letting the kid know that parents are supportive of their kids’ independence as well as available to guide and safeguard them. ”

Teenage girl using smartphone outside
Antonio Guillem / Shutterstock

What are the dangers of Snapchat?

Like any form of social media, Snapchat does pose some dangers to teens, including online bullying, exposure to mature content, and teens feeling the constant need to be on their phones. Common Sense Media points out that since it’s so easy to add “friends” on Snapchat, there is the possibility that your child may be sharing content with strangers and recommends that Snapchat is safe for kids aged 16 and up. They also note that “depending on your settings, the app can collect a ton of data about your habits in, and outside of, the app. Snapchat also works with a lot of third parties that they share your data with.”

They also suggest taking the time to sit with your kids and discuss their online habits as well as helping them configure their settings in the app to ensure their safety. “Sit down with your kid and together go into the app’s settings (the little gear icon next to your profile image). Scroll down to “Who Can…” This is where you can control important safety features, such as who can see your location and who can view your story. This is a perfect time to talk to your kid about using their Snapchat account safely and responsibly,” they suggest.

Karanja echoes this advice, suggesting that parents take the time to review their child’s Snapchat settings with them before allowing them to use the app. “Cooperation and communication with your kid at this age are very important because when they feel safe with you, they are more likely to let you in on what they are doing,” she notes. “When your kid first gets Snapchat, help them adjust the privacy settings and put appropriate restrictions in place and discuss with them why. Restrict bits such as visibility, who they share content with, who has access to them, and this is to avoid being exposed to illicit material and becoming vulnerable to strangers.”

Teen on social media on her smartphone
Prostock Studio / Shutterstock

The benefits of social media

We are all aware of the risks that come with letting kids have their own Snapchat and social media accounts, but these apps aren’t all bad. There are some benefits your child may experience once they join the world of social media, which may help convince you to let your child have Snapchat.

“Social media allows teenagers to join communities where people are able to be creative … and verify others’ creativity,” therapist Octavia Sykes told USA Today. A 2022 survey by Pew Research Center asked teens how social media positively impacted their lives. Of the teens surveyed, 80% said that social media lets them feel more connected to their friends, while 71% said it allows them to showcase their creativity, and 67% said they feel support from their social community. “A smaller share — though still a majority — say the same for feeling more accepted.”

Parents know their children the best and know if they are mature enough to handle certain social media apps. Sitting down with your child and helping them set appropriate boundaries online while also educating them about potential dangers is a great way to ensure your child safely uses social media.  

Editors' Recommendations

Kelli Catana
Contributor
Kelli is a freelance writer who has covered the world of entertainment, pop culture, parenting, and lifestyle for various…
What is Juneteenth? How to talk to kids about this important holiday
What Juneteenth is and how to help kids understand the significance behind the holiday
Juneteenth sign in red, black, and green

What is Juneteenth? If you're not familiar with Juneteenth, the holiday is short for June 19 and commemorates the day when slavery finally came to an end in the U.S. The holiday originated in Texas and is considered the most enduring Black American celebration. Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day. The first Juneteenth was celebrated in 1866, a year after troops entered Galveston, Texas. Federal troops finally arrived in Texas in 1865 to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation that had freed slaves more than two years earlier.

The first Juneteenth in Texas was marked with much jubilation, which is where the name Jubilee Day came from. Juneteenth celebrations included barbecues and music, along with prayer services and educational events. As Juneteenth became an annual event in Texas, the holiday began to spread to other states. Texas made Juneteenth a state holiday in 1972, and it became a federal holiday in 2021 by President Joe Biden.

Read more
13 amazing books that celebrate Black culture to add to your kid’s library this Juneteenth
Add these books to your cart to celebrate Juneteenth this month
A mother reading her young child a bedtime story.

When it comes to celebrating Juneteenth with your family and children, it can quickly get overwhelming. First, the newly cemented holiday remains a new historical fact for a lot of people. Some people look at it as a time to promote diversity, while others look at it as a time to celebrate freedom for all. Regardless, it's important to always focus on the history of Black Americans, particularly Texans, for this holiday.

Juneteenth should serve as a remembrance for Americans. President Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, declaring that all enslaved people should be free. Even though slavery was abolished on January 31, 1865, enslaved Black Americans in the state of Texas didn't know they were free until June. 19, 1865. Thousands of soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and it was there they were met by enslaved people. They told them that they were all free. Even though that day would mark almost two years after slavery was abolished, Black Texans celebrated their freedom. Now known as Black Independence Day, Juneteenth serves as a reminder that freedom and equality are human rights that everyone deserves.

Read more
Why your teen should get a summer job right now
Benefits of summer jobs for teens and some employment ideas
Newspaper advertising summer jobs for teens

Summertime is right around the corner. It won't take long before your teenager is bored, moody, unmotivated, and dare we say, a tad bit lazy. On the other side of the coin, perhaps your teen is the too-cool-for-summer type who wants to socialize all day, every day, heading to the mall, beach, pool, or with friends until it's curfew time.

Certainly, the summer is your adolescent's chance to relax, recharge, and enjoy some time off after a challenging school year. Summer doesn't mean teens are exempt from all responsibility, though. Spring is the ideal time to encourage your teen to start looking for a summer job.

Read more