What is Snapchat?
Snapchat is a social media application for Apple and Android devices. It is a sharing-based application that allows users to take photos and videos, set a time to expiration on posts and send to their friends. It has been increasingly popular with teens, tweens and young adults with almost 100 million daily active users, according to its CEO Evan Spiegal. It is yet another means of digital communication, but as with any other form of technology, it can be used for good and for evil.
Why do children like Snapchat so
Snapchat gives users the ability to share selfies stupid or other activities in real time ?; it does not take the storage on your smartphone or tablet, as it would if you were to take a photo or video directly on your device. You can also add text, location tags and drawings to your photos / videos and messages to your approved contacts. It is apparently more private than Facebook or Twitter because you can choose who sees what positions. You can set a timer, between one and 10 seconds for your photos and videos mostly self-destruction after the receiver sees -. Which in turn gave many users a false sense of security and anonymity
Who has access to photos and videos posted on Snapchat?
Many people think that because the messages, Snapchat photos and videos instantly disappear, the content is gone forever. However, people can still take screenshots to save the content exchanged on the application, and there are even applications available that allow you to do so without the original sender is notified. With all data breaches in the last two years, privacy can not just assume. In addition, it is important to be aware that every time you send someone a snap, you give Snapchat permission "to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, modify, publish, create derivative works from from, distribute, promote, exhibit and display "none of your user content. Basically, you give Snapchat legal rights to use or publish anything you send or receive on the platform. You can read all the terms of use here, which users may or may not know they have accepted automatically by simply downloading the application.
How do I talk to my children about using Snapchat?
Snapchat does not save images or messages sent to the application, so that parents who monitor the use of smartphones for their children will not be able to see if their children are sending or receiving all that is inappropriate or harmful. It is important to ensure that you have an open line of communication with your children so that they feel comfortable talking with you about these things. Equally important is to make sure your children are aware that once something is posted, there is no resume. Although you can delete the post or Snaps disappear, it is always there on the web or somewhere and we all have a digital server "paper trail." Take time to talk with your children and make sure they are safe and smart with technology.
Visit our parental control blog for more insight on security and social media tips for protecting your children things like cyberbullying.