Snapchat - What do parents need to know?
Snapchat is one of the newer social media sites. Snapchat is a photo and video sharing app with a twist. The picture or video you send will disappear after 1-10 seconds. Users love the spontaneity of
that—it feels like socializing that’s digital footprint-free—but, there are ways to capture and
recover images, so no one should develop a false sense of “security” about that. It was developed as an antidote to “traditional” social networking services, where images can stay around forever and people have to worry about self-presentation and reputations. Snapchat users feel like they don’t have to worry if they’re having a bad hair day or just want to make a silly face.
Snapchat is one of thousands of media- sharing apps that kids use and it’s not even the 6
only one with disappearing pictures (Facebook, for example, has a similar app called
Poke). New apps are popping up all the time, and parents can’t possibly be on top of all
of them. That’s why it’s important for kids to develop critical thinking skills. But know,
too, that the values and social skills you’re teaching them help them stay safe in digital
media and other aspects of their lives.
As parents, it’s important to keep the lines of communication with your
kids as open as possible and work together to figure out what’s appropriate for them, in
terms of safety, privacy, reputation and time management. It generally just works better
to talk with your kids about their favorite tools—with genuine interest, not fear—because
they’re more likely to come to you when they need help and you’re much more likely to
be kept in the loop about all the cool technology they use and you get to learn about
Additional Information:
Connect Safely - A Parents' Guide to Snapchat
