- \n
- What is Snapchat?<\/a>\n
- \n
- How Does Snapchat Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- What Age is Snapchat Safe For?<\/a><\/li>\n
- What Should You Avoid on Snapchat?<\/a><\/li>\n
- Does Snapchat Have Safety Features?<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to Use Snapchat Safely: Easy Points<\/a><\/li>\n
- FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What is Snapchat?<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2023\/03\/shutterstock_642259996-1.jpg\")
AlesiaKan\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n
The Snapchat app is free to download and allows users to post and exchange Snaps\u2014pictures and videos. Once viewed, these Snaps disappear, although if set as a Story, they will remain viewable for twenty-four hours, allowing all <\/span>of <\/span>a Snapchat user\u2019s friends to view the content for a full day. <\/span>After this time, the app deletes data automatically as part of its built-in online safety features.<\/span><\/p>\n
Most users of the Snapchat messaging app take photos or videos, add lenses, filters, or other effects, and then share this content with friends. There\u2019s a premium subscription plan, too, called Snapchat+.<\/p>\n
How Does Snapchat Work?<\/h3>\n
To sign up for Snapchat, you\u2019ll need to provide your name, date of birth, and email address or phone number. Once your account is created, you can add Snapchat friends by either manually searching for people or uploading your contacts. Alternatively, you can add a friend by taking a photo of their Snapcode: this is a QR code unique to each user.<\/p>\n
When it comes to sharing and managing Snaps, there are two ways to do so. Firstly, there\u2019s individual messaging, and secondly, there\u2019s the group chat option, allowing the whole group to get involved and contribute.<\/p>\n
Mostly, communication is initiated on this app via an image or video rather than a text message. To get started, a user must tap the big camera icon on the screen to take a Snap. If desired, users can customize their Snap using the various filters and photo-editing tools available. Once done, the Snap can be sent to anyone by <\/span>scrolling through the search results<\/span> on the user\u2019s friends list or added to their Story. It can also be added to the user\u2019s Snap Map, which displays the user\u2019s location on a map that\u2019s viewable to all other users of Snapchat.<\/span><\/p>\n
What Age is Snapchat Safe For?<\/h2>\n
The first thing you need to know is that Snapchat has a minimum age, but it varies depending on the country. Users must be thirteen or over <\/strong>to use the Snapchat app in the US (16 in other places, like Australia), according to Snapchat\u2019s terms of service. While Snapchat doesn\u2019t require age verification for all users on signup, it may prompt you to verify your age if they suspect you\u2019re underage or wants to use age-restricted features. Some countries, including Australia, now include additional age verification measures.<\/p>\n
Despite the lower age limit in the US, the platform Common Sense Media suggests that the app is appropriate for ages sixteen and over<\/strong> due to users\u2019 exposure to data-collecting marketing ploys and the possibility of encountering inappropriate content.<\/p>\n
What Should You Avoid on Snapchat?<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2023\/03\/shutterstock_1914972724-1.jpg\")
Pascal Huot\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n
While this app is very popular with <\/span>a teenage user base<\/span>, there are some <\/span>potential<\/span> dangers of Snapchat that parents should be aware of to keep their kids safe and enjoying a healthy online experience.<\/span><\/p>\n
Is Snapchat Safe for Kids? Key Safety Concerns<\/h3>\n
Snapchat offers fun features like disappearing messages and creative filters, but these same features pose real risks for children. Disappearing snaps can hide inappropriate content that parents can\u2019t monitor, and although snaps vanish, recipients can still screenshot images without notification. <\/span><\/p>\n
Snapchat\u2019s location-sharing tool, Snap Map, also raises significant privacy concerns\u2014exposing a child\u2019s whereabouts to friends or even strangers. Parental controls are limited, so without ongoing guidance and check-ins, Snapchat isn\u2019t a fully secure environment for underage users.<\/span><\/p>\n
Key to this is understanding how the app works and the potential risks it poses. This guide will explain more about both of these things.<\/p>\n
Snapchat Risk 1: Does Not Store Old Photos<\/h3>\n
The app does not automatically<\/span> store old photos, but this shouldn\u2019t give you a false sense of security: hacking and screenshot capabilities are just a couple of means by which old images or videos could resurface or be saved. There are even companies out there offering programs to restore old Snapchats.<\/p>\n
Snapchat Risk 2: Inappropriate Content<\/h3>\n
This is the big question in terms of whether Snapchat is safe for kids. Unfortunately, this is where things get dicey. Snapchat incorporates a Discover gallery, featuring content that users can interact with. This content could be brand advertising or public stories<\/span> from popular Snapchat users. What\u2019s always the case, however, is that its content generates a lot of hits, meaning there\u2019s a huge element of clickbait at play.<\/p>\n
As a result<\/span>, the Discover section tends to feature a lot of explicit and sensitive content<\/span> that you definitely don\u2019t want your teen viewing.<\/span><\/p>\n
Read also Safe Social Media Apps for Kids<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Snapchat Risk 3: Snap Maps Show User Locations<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2023\/02\/snapchat-world_custom-7763b62a81588d5def16ef6335a573d94e0dc908.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhile creating their Snaps, Snapchat users <\/span>share their location with friends and see where they are using<\/span> the Snap Map feature. There are controls that can be put in place regarding this feature of the app, but things are different if a user posts to their Story.<\/span><\/p>\n
Our Story is a public feed, and two users (or more) can communicate, even if they don\u2019t know each other, directly via the Snap Map if they\u2019re near each other, posing potential risks to your teen\u2019s safety. So if your teen gives out <\/span>confidential or sensitive<\/span> information and posts it as public content to Our Story, this can not only be seen by the entire Snapchat community but potentially put on the World Snap Map\u2014complete with their location and whatever personal details they\u2019ve shared.<\/span><\/p>\n
To make Snapchat safe\u2014or as safe as possible\u2014it\u2019s vital to ensure that your child\u2019s location<\/a>-sharing settings are adjusted appropriately. This is important for their device settings in general, not just Snapchat, to make sure location data isn\u2019t being shared, but you should always go one step further and examine each app\u2019s location-based features and settings as well.<\/span><\/p>\n
Snapchat Risk 4: Snapcode by Virtual Strangers<\/h3>\n
Snapchat makes it so easy to find friends, including by using QR Snapcodes, that it can be easy for your child to accept friend requests from people they don\u2019t actually know. For parents, this can be a key concern regarding <\/span>whether Snapchat is<\/span> safe for kids.<\/span><\/p>\n
There are many reasons why having strangers (or virtual strangers) on your teen\u2019s Snapchat friends list is risky. To this end, it\u2019s crucial to speak frankly with your child about the importance of only accepting friend requests from people they know.<\/p>\n
Snapchat Risk 5: Discover Area and Ads<\/h3>\n
The Discover area in Snapchat offers content created by celebs, brands, popular Snapchat users, and entertainment and news outlets. Users can subscribe to specific Discover sources to get their feeds if they wish.<\/p>\n
In terms of kids or teen Snapchat users, Discover needs to be approached with extreme caution. While there is some legit content, there\u2019s also plenty of sensational, promotional, or adult material, such as images of people who have undergone extreme plastic surgery.<\/p>\n
Your child is also likely to come across content inviting users to \u2018swipe up,\u2019 for example, to learn more, which will usually direct them to advertising content or to take a quiz designed to capture data.<\/p>\n
To help ensure that your kid is only shown age-appropriate content via Discover, ensure they\u2019ve entered their correct date of birth upon signing up to the app, meaning that adult content and ads for alcohol should be filtered out.<\/p>\n
Snapchat Risk 6: Privacy and Safety<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2023\/03\/shutterstock_450910099-1.jpg\")
dennizn\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n
While it\u2019s true that Snaps disappear once viewed <\/span>by other Snapchatters and can only be accessed for a very short period<\/span>, this doesn\u2019t stop users from downloading and saving Snaps they\u2019ve created themselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Swiping up from the camera screen allows users to access a section called Memories to view these downloaded images and videos, <\/span>which are part of the stored location data<\/span>. Users can also access the My Eyes Only feature from this screen, which lets them add password protection to images they want to keep extra private.<\/span><\/p>\n
Obviously, this could be a concern for parents, as My Eyes Only could potentially be used as a password-protected repository for inappropriate content<\/a>, especially as the photos that can be stored here don\u2019t need to have originated from Snapchat. To access My Eyes Only, you\u2019ll need to know the user\u2019s four-digit PIN. The provision of this could be a condition of allowing your teen to use Snapchat, perhaps, to ensure that this particular feature isn\u2019t misused.<\/p>\n
Snapchat Risk 7: The Time Distraction<\/h3>\n
This popular messaging app can be lots of fun to use, which is exactly why teens (and adults!) are drawn to it! However, the inherent time pressure of quickly disappearing Snaps can result in your child wanting to check the app constantly throughout the day, which can get in the way of schoolwork, family time, or hanging out with friends in real life.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s very important to keep an eye on your teen\u2019s use of Snapchat and intervene if you think they are spending too much time on the app or if they seem to be feeling any pressure or stress as a result of interacting with Snapchat.<\/p>\n
Related: Dangerous Apps\u2019 List for Kids and Tweens<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Snapchat Risk 8: Generative AI Features<\/h3>\n
Snapchat increasingly uses generative AI\u2014artificial intelligence that can create text, images, videos, or audio based on data it has been trained on. These AI-driven tools enhance the user experience but also introduce new safety considerations for teens.<\/p>\n
Snapchat uses generative AI to improve the user experience through features like:<\/p>\n
- \n
- My AI Chatbot<\/strong>: A personalized AI assistant that can answer questions, provide recommendations, and engage in conversations.<\/li>\n
- AI Lenses<\/strong>: Filters and effects powered by AI to create unique, interactive visuals.<\/li>\n
- Creative Tools<\/strong>: AI-driven features that help users generate captions, stickers, or even custom content for their snaps.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
It is also a component of the Spotlight submissions and other features of the app. While these features are designed to be fun and creative, parents should discuss the potential risks with their children, such as over-sharing, interacting with AI-generated content without critical thinking, or being influenced by AI suggestions.<\/p>\n
Does Snapchat Have Safety Features?<\/h2>\n
Pascal Huot\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n
Snapchat has several safety features, including reporting and blocking tools and the ability to <\/span>disable your teen\u2019s location <\/span>features. The app has also introduced a Safety Advisory Board, which is on a mission to \u2018educate, challenge, raise issues, and advise Snapchatters on how to keep the Snapchat community safe.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n
As a result, Snapchat has deployed other features designed to promote the wellness of Snapchatters:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Here For You<\/strong>\u2014a tool designed to safeguard users\u2019 mental health by providing proactive in-app support \u00a0<\/span>(there\u2019s also a dedicated online <\/span>support page<\/span><\/a>) <\/span>to assist Snapchatters who may be experiencing issues themselves or want to know how to help if they have friends dealing with problems.<\/li>\n
- Snapchat Family Center<\/strong>\u2014this tool is designed to give parents insights into who their teens have been communicating with on Snapchat, and who their friends are, while remaining respectful of their privacy and autonomy.<\/li>\n
- Safety Snapshot<\/strong>\u2014the Safety Snapshot<\/span> digital literacy program aims to help people use Snapchat safely by educating Snapchatters about privacy, data, security, and staying safe online.<\/li>\n
- Updated privacy for under 18s<\/strong>\u2014there are no browsable public profiles for users under the age of eighteen.<\/li>\n
- Default chat functions<\/strong>\u2014by default, users cannot chat or contact others directly unless each has added the other as a friend.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Is Snapchat safe for kids? Deploying the privacy and safety features and becoming familiar with Snapchat\u2019s parental privacy controls can make it safer, if not perfect.<\/p>\n
How to Use Snapchat Safely: Easy Points<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2023\/02\/shutterstock_1889548993-1.jpg\")
Ground Picture\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n
There are several essential things that parents can do to ensure their teen is using the Snapchat app as safely as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n
Set Up Privacy Restrictions on Snapchat<\/h3>\n
Parents can set up parental controls and privacy settings on their teens’ Snapchat accounts to ensure their online activity is safe from potential risks. With features that allow Snapchat users to post public content, many parents have privacy concerns, so the best safety measure they can take is to set up privacy restrictions on their teen\u2019s account.<\/p>\n
To enable privacy settings, go into the Snapchat app:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Open Snapchat and click on the user\u2019s Bitmoji or profile icon in the top left.<\/li>\n
- Tap the gear icon in the top right to open Settings.
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/04\/Set-Up-Privacy-Restrictions-on-Snapchat.png\")
<\/li>\n - Scroll down to the \u201cPrivacy Control\u201d section and update the following:\n
- \n
- Tap Contact Me and set it to My Friends to prevent an unwanted contact or stranger from Snapchatting your teen.
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/04\/Set-Up-Privacy-Restrictions-on-Snapchat-3.png\")
<\/li>\n - Tap View My Story and choose Friends Only or Custom to exclude specific friends.
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/04\/Set-Up-Privacy-Restrictions-on-Snapchat-4.png\")
<\/li>\n - Tap See My Location and enable Ghost Mode to hide their location on the Snap Map.
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/04\/Set-Up-Privacy-Restrictions-on-Snapchat-2.png\")
<\/li>\n - Tap See Me in Quick Add\/Find Friends and toggle OFF to limit the account\u2019s exposure.
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/04\/Set-Up-Privacy-Restrictions-on-Snapchat-5.png\")
<\/li>\n - Tap Activity Indicator and toggle OFF to hide when your teen is online.
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/04\/Set-Up-Privacy-Restrictions-on-Snapchat-6.png\")
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n - Go to Spotlight & Snap Map to disable your child from posting public content.<\/li>\n
- To block or report inappropriate accounts, tap and hold on a Snap from a friend and select Manage Friendship > Block or Report.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Set Up Snapchat Family Center<\/h3>\n
If you would like to have some more control over how your child interacts on Snapchat, you can take advantage of the new feature, Snapchat Family Center.<\/a><\/p>\n
To set up Snapchat Family Center, you must:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Download Snapchat on your own phone.<\/li>\n
- Create a parent account.<\/li>\n
- Tap the chat icon > tap Family Center.<\/li>\n
- Invite your teen to link accounts.
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/04\/Set-Up-Privacy-Restrictions-on-Snapchat-1.png\")
<\/li>\n - Once linked, you\u2019ll be able to:\n
- \n
- See who they\u2019re friends with.<\/li>\n
- Who they\u2019ve messaged in the past 7 days (but not be able to see content).<\/li>\n
- Report accounts directly.<\/li>\n
- Restrict sensitive or harmful content.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Additional Safety Tips for Parents<\/h3>\n
Beyond app settings, here are some essential practices to keep your teen safe:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Firstly, ensure your child has adjusted their privacy settings to allow for two-factor authentication.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Be aware of My Eyes Only, a Snapchat feature that hides selected Snaps behind a passcode. Have an open conversation with your teen about what they\u2019re storing there \u2014 and whether you should have access too.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Make sure that the privacy settings are adjusted to control who can see their Story.<\/li>\n
- It\u2019s vital that parents engage with their kids about the importance of only allowing their teens\u2019 existing friends to contact them.<\/li>\n
- Kids’ profiles should be hidden from Quick Add.<\/li>\n
- Ensure that your teen understands the possible implications of putting information \u2018out there\u2019\u2014if it\u2019s something they want to keep private, they shouldn\u2019t be tempted to post it.<\/li>\n
- Remind your teen that once something is online, it can be screenshotted \u2014 and possibly shared.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Speak to your teen about the importance of never openly sharing their Snapchat username or Snapcode.<\/li>\n
- Only people known to your teen should be added to their Snapchat contacts; they should never accept friend requests from strangers or send messages to people they don\u2019t know.<\/li>\n
- Use a tool like the Findmykids app<\/a> to help your teen enjoy a healthier, more balanced online experience. With Findmykids, you can monitor which apps your child is using, view detailed reports on app activity, and temporarily block selected apps or all apps for a chosen period of time. The app also provides real-time location tracking and features like sound monitoring and call filtering. This is especially important for apps like Snapchat, which teens may check dozens of times a day, making it easy for screen time to add up unnoticed.<\/span><\/span>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2025\/12\/Banner-FMK-Statistics-Night-1.png\")
<\/a>Findmykids app<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n
- To add an additional layer of safety, Snapchat should be used on a device that deploys virus protection, a firewall, and other tools such as an app locker.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
If you\u2019re looking for an answer to the question, \u2018Is Snapchat safe for kids?\u2019 then the answer is yes\u2026 and no!<\/p>\n
According to the platform itself, it\u2019s not suitable for users under the age of thirteen. Those over this minimum <\/span>age can open a Snapchat account. However, it\u2019s important to be aware that the app deploys no form of age verification, so is entirely reliant on kids being honest when entering their date of birth.<\/p>\n
Explicit content is readily available on Snapchat, and the platform also features advertising. Plus, the real-time location tracking features<\/a> and the nature of Our Story mean that, unless the default settings are changed, your child could be putting out to the world personal information, including exactly where they are located.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the bad news. The good news, however, is that there are lots of tools and Snapchat features, including those we\u2019ve listed above, allowing users to set privacy and safety restrictions and prevent underage users from being shown age-inappropriate content. While any online forum may never be 100% safe for kids, if parents deploy these features, familiarize themselves thoroughly with the app, and engage with their teens about their use of the platform, Snapchat can provide a fun, relatively safe arena in which kids can engage with their friends.<\/p>\n
FAQs<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2023\/03\/shutterstock_303620456-1.jpg\")
Ground Picture\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n
What is the safest way to use Snapchat?<\/h3>\n
Ensure that all the relevant privacy and safety features are deployed on your kids\u2019 Snapchat accounts, especially those around location sharing, and ensure that your teen isn\u2019t able to access inappropriate content. Kids should be told never to accept friend requests from strangers and to notify parents if anything happens on the platform that makes them uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
Which is safer: Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok?<\/h3>\n
- Be aware of My Eyes Only, a Snapchat feature that hides selected Snaps behind a passcode. Have an open conversation with your teen about what they\u2019re storing there \u2014 and whether you should have access too.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Firstly, ensure your child has adjusted their privacy settings to allow for two-factor authentication.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Tap Contact Me and set it to My Friends to prevent an unwanted contact or stranger from Snapchatting your teen.
- Snapchat Family Center<\/strong>\u2014this tool is designed to give parents insights into who their teens have been communicating with on Snapchat, and who their friends are, while remaining respectful of their privacy and autonomy.<\/li>\n
- AI Lenses<\/strong>: Filters and effects powered by AI to create unique, interactive visuals.<\/li>\n
- What Age is Snapchat Safe For?<\/a><\/li>\n
- How Does Snapchat Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n