How to protect your child from dangers on Snapchat: Tips on settings and security
Snapchat has become a regular part of everyday life for many children and teenagers. Around 20 percent of its users are between 13 and 17 years old, making it one of the platforms most popular among young people. They mainly use the app to send friends pictures or short videos that disappear after being viewed once, or to exchange quick chat messages. Posting stories is also common, and with Snap Map they can even share their live location with others.
These features are what make Snapchat so appealing – playful, spontaneous, and seemingly fleeting. But this is also where the risks begin. Content that vanishes after a few seconds creates a false sense of security. Young people quickly believe that nothing will remain – and therefore are more willing to send risky pictures or write things they normally wouldn’t. In reality, Snaps can be saved or screenshotted without the sender being able to prevent it.
Another major risk is contact with strangers. Snapchat makes it very easy to find and message new people – sometimes just because a phone number is saved in the address book or because of a friend's suggestion. What looks like a harmless request for connecting can actually be an unknown person deliberately trying to get in touch. Studies show that in the UK, about half of all reported grooming cases happened on Snapchat. This puts Snapchat at the top of all social media platforms when it comes to grooming incidents.
Bullying is also a significant problem on Snapchat. It often happens in group chats, where young people may be excluded, insulted, or humiliated. Since messages and images disappear, it is especially hard for victims to save evidence or ask for help.
On top of that, Snapchat is not only about private chats. In the Discover section or in publicly shared stories, children and teenagers can come across inappropriate or even explicit content. While Snapchat’s guidelines officially ban such material, the filters are not flawless, and kids may still be exposed to it.
All of this shows: Snapchat is not inherently dangerous, but it is a platform that offers many possibilities – and with them come real risks. That’s why it’s essential for you as parents to actively guide your child’s use, explain the risks, and set the right safety options together.
How to Set Up Snapchat Safely for Your Child
- Limit visibility in friend suggestions: Set it so your child is only suggested to others if they already have several mutual friends. Also explain to your child why they should not accept requests from strangers or add unknown people themselves.
- Protect location sharing: In Snap Map, you can choose who sees your child’s location. The safest option is to hide the location completely. Alternatively, it can be shared only with very close friends. Talk with your child about why hiding their location makes them much safer.
- Who can contact me?: In privacy settings, you can restrict who is allowed to send your child messages. Recommended option: Friends only. This prevents strangers from sending message requests.
- Adjust story settings: Decide who can view your child’s stories. Best option: Friends only. You can also hide stories from specific people if necessary.
- Use Family Center: Snapchat offers an integrated parental control tool called Family Center. Here, parents’ and teenagers’ accounts can be linked. You can then see which accounts your child has chatted with in the last 7 days and who is on their friends list – without viewing the chat content itself. This keeps your child’s privacy intact while giving you an overview of whether unknown or suspicious contacts are involved. You can also check whether location sharing is hidden and activate notifications if your child decides to share it.
- Reporting violations: Show your child how to report inappropriate content or harassing behavior directly in the app. Make it clear that it’s important not to feel alone in these situations and to seek help if something unpleasant happens.
By following these steps, you make Snapchat safer for your child and help them use the platform responsibly. The best approach is to go through the settings together and talk about possible risks along the way. This not only increases safety but also strengthens trust between you and your child.
