Snapchat is one of the biggest social media platforms on the digital market. It has millions of daily users, and due to its simplicity and accessibility, most of those users are children.
Children can share real-time pictures and videos with their friends. And most parents don’t really use Snapchat, so children often get exposed to inappropriate content without their parents knowing.
But children often don’t report this content. The consequences of not reporting inappropriate content on Snapchat can lead to behavioral changes in your child. But, don’t worry. With careful monitoring by using parental control apps, or manually checking your child’s phone, you can fish out and block inappropriate content on Snapchat.
Types of Inappropriate Content on Snapchat
Inappropriate content can come in different shapes and sizes. But every type of inappropriate content on Snapchat is dangerous. So, in the following paragraphs, we’ll go over the different types of inappropriate content on Snapchat.
Sexting
I think that we shouldn’t go into detail about what sexting is. Shortly, sexting is when two people send messages with sexual content to each other.
The important thing is that sexting is really prevalent among children. Sexting is dangerous because children often send private photos too, and those photos get shared around, ashaming the child that took them.
Bullying
Ah, of course, cyberbullying. I never understood the point of hurting others’ feelings, especially through a screen. But hey, these so-called “tough guys” aren’t so strong in real life. Anyway, there is a lot of cyberbullying going on on Snapchat too.
Statistics show there is a 69% chance your child will get cyberbullied on Snapchat. And the consequences of cyberbullying include depression, isolation, social anxiety, suicidal thoughts, etc.
Explicit Language
For some reason, children love to use explicit language. Using swear words makes them think they’re bigger and more mature, I guess. Snapchat is the perfect place for children to get exposed to this type of language since there is an option to chat with others.
And also almost all pictures and videos shared on Snapchat have captions, that might contain explicit language. Exposure to explicit language can create a bad swearing habit in your children.
Drug and Alcohol References
Just like explicit language, children can come across drug and alcohol references on Snapchat. Exposure to drug and alcohol-related content can encourage children to drink and do drugs. And we all know the consequences of drinking and doing drugs.
Violence
Another type of inappropriate content children might come across on Snapchat is violence. Constant exposure to content that contains violence can cause changes in your child’s behavior.
If you notice that your child suddenly acts more violently and aggressively, exposure to violent content might just be the reason.
How to Block Inappropriate Content on Snapchat
We shortly went over the different types of inappropriate content on Snapchat. Now it’s time to learn how to block inappropriate content on Snapchat. In the following paragraphs, we’ll go over several ways to block inappropriate content on Snapchat, such as:
- Updating Snapchat to the latest version;
- Adjusting privacy settings;
- Blocking specific users;
- Reporting inappropriate content on Snapchat
- Monitoring your child’s Snapchat activity;
Updating Snapchat to the Latest Version
Updating Snapchat means that you have updated the security guidelines. Also, regular updates decrease the chance of your child encountering inappropriate content on Snapchat because Snpachat’s developers constantly try to filter out this type of content on the app.
To update Snapchat on your iPhone: Go to App Store-> Profile-> Find Snapchat and press Update.
To update Snapchat on your Android: Go to Play Store-> Menu-> My Apps & Games-> Updates-> Find Snapchat and press Update.
Adjusting Privacy Settings
Snapchat offers a lot of features for adjusting privacy settings. Just follow these steps: Profile-> Settings icon-> Privacy Controls.
You can select who can contact your child, who can see their Snapchat story, and such. Adjusting privacy settings on Snapchat can help you lower the chance of your child getting exposed to inappropriate content.
Blocking Specific Users
Have you ever wanted to never meet some person again? Well, Snapchat offer just that with the block option.
Just go to the Chat screen, tap and hold that user’s name, press ‘Manage Friendship’ and tap the Block button. The block option is perfect if you want to get rid of a user that keeps bothering your child.
Reporting Inappropriate Content to Snapchat
Reporting inappropriate content on Snapchat can really help in the fight against this type of content. When your child reports inappropriate content, the developers can ban the user that shares it from the app.
Unfortunately, studies show that about 86% of children don’t have a habit of reporting inappropriate content. We, parents, must encourage children to change this statistic for the better.
To report someone on Snapchat go to the Chat Screen, tap and hold the user’s name, press ‘Manage Friendship’, and tap the Report button.
Monitoring Your Child’s Snapchat Activity
If your child doesn’t follow safety rules when using Snapchat, then it’s time to use parental control software. Many great parental control apps such as Google Family Link, Norton Family, and mSpy can help you monitor your child’s Snapchat activity.
This way you can filter out inappropriate content and block users that share it yourself. But you must be honest with your children and tell them that you will be monitoring them if they don’t follow the safety rules themselves.
Additional Tips for Blocking Inappropriate Content on Snapchat
The most important thing when introducing your child to Snapchat safety rules is education and communication.
Firstly, you must educate yourself and your child on the risks of exposure to inappropriate content and then set strict rules and boundaries regarding inappropriate content.
Conclusion
As we mentioned, Snapchat is one of the biggest social media platforms with roughly 363 million daily users, most of them being children.
Also, a lot of inappropriate content is being shared on Snapchat, so it’s your duty as a parent to help your child learn about the possible dangers and lower the chance of exposure to this type of content. After all, our children’s safety is priceless.
FAQs
What should I do if I come across inappropriate content on Snapchat?
Block and report the user that shared that content.
Can I block all inappropriate content on Snapchat?
You can’t do it all at once, but you can block users that share inappropriate content when you detect them.
How do I know if my child is using Snapchat to engage in inappropriate behavior?
You can use parental control software to monitor your child’s Snapchat activity if you notice any behavioral changes that might be caused by inappropriate content.
Can I view my child’s Snapchat messages and snaps without them knowing?
Yes, you can, by using parental control software.
Should I allow my child to use Snapchat at all?
It isn’t a must-have app, but if your children insist, then you can let them use the app when they’re about 12-13 years old.
ALSO READ: How To Restrict What Your Child Watches on YouTube
