Snapchat is an app where users can share (snaps) photos, messages, and short videos which can be customised with filters, text, and stickers.
Users can decide how long their followers can view their snap for and if the content is sent directly, it will disappear after it is viewed. Alternatively, if a user uploads content to their Story (see Snapchat Buzzwords), it will remain visible for 24 hours.
Core Functions
- Share videos or photos as 'snaps' which can be customised with filters.
- Snaps can be shared privately with other users, and can be set to disappear after 1-10 seconds or stay indefinitely.
- Users can upload snaps to their 'story'. These will show for 24hrs.
- Private messages (blue chat) can be shared between users. Users can swipe right to find the chat screen which shows chats and snaps from friends.chats and snaps from friends.
- Users can swipe the camera screen to the left to see the 'stories' screen, which includes all friends’ stories, subscriptions, and sponsored content.
- The Spotlight feature allows users to create videos with music, which last up to 60s long, similar to how TikTok and Instagram Reels work.
- The discover screen includes content from TV shows, celebrities, and magazines, as well as people a user follows (but aren't friends with). This is accessible by tapping the 'Discover' icon at the bottom right of the camera screen.
- The Snapchat Map allows users to view stories from all over the world. Users can also share their live locations with friends by integrating Google or Apple maps into the app.
- Users can add contacts by scanning a 'Snapcode'. Each user has one on their profile.
- Users can build a Snapstreak if they message every day. The number of streaks corresponds with how many days the streak has ran.
- My AI is Snapchat’s artificial intelligence chatbot that responds and interacts with users. The bot chat is pinned at the top of a user’s chat window and can be used like any other AI chatbot – to answer questions, tell jokes or talk to.
- The Communities feature links users who attend the same school. Users can see what other users from the same school are sharing and interact with each other. In order to join a community, users must have an email address issued by the school or college they attend.
- Friendship Flashbacks are ‘throwbacks’ to old Snaps sent between two friends. They appear directly in a conversation between the two people.
- Quick Add - This Adding Friends function is a quick way of adding users from your contacts, friends of friends, or people you may know.
Family Centre
Snapchat have introduced a new in-app safety tool for parents. The tool gives parents insight into who their children are talking to, allowing to view who their child is friends with on the app and who their child has spoken to in the last week. In order to comply with privacy rules, the message content will not be shown.
In order to use Family Centre, a child user’s account must be linked to their parent’s account.
Parents and carers can use the Family Centre to disable My AI, Snapchat’s artificial intelligence chatbot, from responding to their child’s linked account. Once disabled, they will still be able to see and message the chatbot, but it will not respond.
Age Restrictions
Snapchat rules (Terms and Conditions of Service) require users to be 13 or older to use the app.
Risks
- Private Snaps can disappear after 10 seconds, which may lure children and young people into a false sense of security where they might send something they wouldn't normally. Always remember that someone can screenshot everything sent without the sender knowing, by using another device or specific software.
- The discover section of Snapchat may have content which is not appropriate for young people.
- Anyone who adds a user can send them Snaps, which may result in receiving inappropriate images, videos, or text from strangers.
- The SnapMap function can show strangers a user’s exact location. If a profile is set to public, SnapMaps can also be linked to Google and Apple Maps, giving directions to a user’s location.
- Snapchat's spotlight feature may inspire children and young people to become influencers, and do 'whatever it takes' to gain more followers such as videos with less clothing or personalised interaction with fans.
- Numbers attached to user profiles such as Snapstreaks and Snapcodes facilitate greater times spent online as this is only way to get greater numbers.
Safety Settings
- Users can choose who can view their stories.
- When using the SnapMap, users can employ Ghost mode to hide exact location.
Top Tips
- Encourage young people to have their Ghost Mode switched on.
- Remind them to report and block anyone who sends inappropriate material.
- Always remember that someone can take a screenshot without the other person knowing.
- Tell them to only accept friend requests and ‘quick adds’ from people they know offline.
Deleting or deactivating your Snapchat account
Snapchat gives users the option to deactivate or delete their account if they find they are spending a lot of time on it. If a user decides to take a break from the app, none of their friends will be able to contact or interact with them on the app. Snapchat gives the user the option to deactivate their account for 30 days. If they don’t log in after that time, their account will be deleted.