Why Snapchat is Bad? 10 Things You Should Know

Snapchat is a popular social media platform where users can connect and interact with friends, family, and others. The short-lived nature of the content created on Snapchat makes it different from other platforms like Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Although it’s deemed safe, Snapchat's disappearing feature makes it even riskier for users, especially kids, as parents cannot monitor whom they talk to and what they share. Besides, there are many other reasons why Snapchat is bad, including increased screen time, addiction, online predators, inappropriate content, etc.

This guide details the risks of using Snapchat among kids and shares possible ways to keep them safe and secure while letting them enjoy themselves with their friends on the platform.

Part 1: Why Snapchat Is Popular Among Kids?

Snapchat has plenty of fun features, such as glam filters, emojis, annotations, and other features that make it popular among kids. Other reasons include:

Part 2: 10 Bad Things about Snapchat

Snapchat is a great platform for users to interact with their friends and loved ones, and it allows them to demonstrate their creativity by creating unique snaps to send to their friends. Also, several augmented reality features make the app highly engaging and entertaining. Unfortunately, every coin has two sides, so here are 10 bad things about Snapchat:

1. Screen Time: Snapchat has many features, including filters, emojis, augmented reality lenses, annotations, and emojis, which kids and teens enjoy and often result in high screen time. It potentially affects their sleeping patterns or leads to sleep deprivation and, in turn, fatigue.

2. Online Predators: If your kids fail to configure their security settings properly, chances are they receive messages or snaps from cyber attackers who ask for personal information. Also, predators can easily track down your child using the platform’s location-sharing feature.

3. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Teens these days develop a fear of missing out, which is a desire and anxiety to stay connected and do what others are doing on Snapchat. It can be linked to information overload, low self-esteem, and negative well-being.

4. Spreading Fake News: Another reason why Snapchat is bad is the risk of spreading fake news due to inadequate moderation. It’s a major concern, especially for teenagers, as it might result in a change in behavior and perceptions in the wrong way.

5. Addiction: Snapchat has plenty of features and continues to add new ones to keep people on the platform. For example, if you do teen streaks with another user every day, you get special statistics or emojis beside your username. If you miss out, the icon will be removed. It results in an instant sense of gratification amongst the kids, and they continue using Snapchat day after day.

6. Lowered Attention Span: Reduced attention span amongst the kids is an answer to why Snapchat is bad for mental health. It’s seen that the fleeting and short nature of snaps results in a short-time focus and attention span amongst the kids. And they can’t engage in any kind of academic or physical activities.

7. Cyberbullying: The risks of cyberbullying are doubled with the disappearing feature of Snapchat. The predators and people with ill intent can bully anyone online without leaving a paper trail behind.

8. Body Image Issues: Snapchat offers plenty of emojis, filters, and other editing tools for users to be expressive and create unique snaps for others to view. However, teens often use filters and editing tools to create an unrealistically beautiful picture or are unable to embrace how they look.

9. Inappropriate Content: Snapchat users might expose themselves to inappropriate content, such as violence, which can potentially hurt their mental health.

10. Privacy Concern: Snapchat's disappearing feature makes it difficult for parents to track down with whom their kids are talking and sharing their information. Also, Snapchat often impulsively makes the kids share personal information, believing that the messages will disappear, which often isn’t the case.

Part 3: Can I Let My 12-Year-Old Kid Use Snapchat?

According to Snapchat's terms and services, users must be aged 13 or older to create an account and connect with others. However, there’s no age verification, and kids can lie about their age when signing up for social media platforms. Here is why Snapchat is bad for 12-year-old kids:

First, a 12-year-old kid lies to access the platform, which shows their lack of understanding about why the age limit exists and raises questions regarding safety and honesty.

At 12, a child might not be mature enough to understand the type of interactions that happen on Snapchat, including exposure to cyberbullies or inappropriate content.

Its location sharing can easily lead people to a user’s location, which is not ideal.

Snapchat's ephemeral nature (disappearing messages) makes it difficult for parents to monitor what their kids are doing on social media.

Part 4: How to Protect Children When They Are Using Snapchat

Irrespective of the age limit, you must ensure your kids avoid using Snapchat until they are 16 and understand the potential risks. Special initiatives must be taken to ensure safe and responsible usage of the platform.

Method 1: Set Snapchat Built-in Parental Control

Snapchat has a built-in parental control feature designed to keep the trends safe on the app. To activate it, follow the steps in order:

Step 1: Download Snapchat on your smartphone from the Google PlayStore or App Store and log in with valid user credentials.

Step 2: Once you are set up, tap the “Profile" icon at the top left corner, followed by the “Settings/Gear” icon.

Step 3: Then, find and tap on the Privacy Controls > Family Center and send an invite to your child.

Step 4: Once they accept the invite, you can access their friends, chats, and more. Also, you can set other parental controls to ensure your kid is safe on Snapchat.

Method 2: Use FamiGuard Pro to Monitor Kids' Snapchat

Sometimes it's not enough just to use the default Snapchat parental controls, kids have a way to use another Snapchat account and also find a way to turn off this setting, so a better parental control software is necessary, and this is where FamiGuard Pro is a good choice for you. FamiGuard Pro helps parents to monitor their kids' screen time, and it also helps parents to directly monitor their kids' Snapchat chats, and has an automatic screenshot function that allows you to remotely and directly understand the content of the screen chat.

How to Set Up FamiGuard Pro to Monitor Kids' Snapchat Activities?

Step 1. Create/Sign in your account and pick the suitable subscription plan to unlock all FamiGuard Pro features.

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Step 2. Choose the device you want to bind and follow the Set up guide to finish installation and configuration on the target device. If you want to monitor Android device, you can access an.famiguardapp.com to download and install FamiGuard Pro Assistant on the target device. Then, follow the package installation to finish configuration. If you make it, click the button to hide FamiGuard Pro Assistant.

Step 3. After you set up successfully, you can begin your monitor now.

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FAQ about Snapchat Bad Things

1. What are the negatives of Snapchat?

Some negatives of Snapchat include privacy concerns, as snaps can be screenshotted without consent, which can lead to sharing of personal content. The app’s disappearing messages may also encourage risky behavior, and excessive use of Snapchat has been linked to decreased self-esteem, as users compare themselves to others.

2. Should I let my 14-year-old get Snapchat?

Deciding if Snapchat is appropriate for a 14-year-old depends on maturity level and responsible use of social media. Snapchat's minimum age is 13, but it may expose teens to inappropriate content, privacy risks, or online pressure. Discussing online safety and monitoring usage can help make Snapchat safer for younger users.

3. Why does Snapchat have a bad reputation?

Snapchat has a mixed reputation due to privacy concerns, the potential for misuse (like bullying or sharing inappropriate content), and its impact on mental health. Its disappearing messages can encourage risky behavior, and critics argue that it contributes to the pressure for validation through views and streaks.

4. What are some good and bad things about Snapchat?

Conclusion: Is Snapchat Bad for Kids and Teens?

Increased screen time, online predators, lower attention spans, addiction, spreading fake news, inappropriate content, and others are the reasons why Snapchat is bad for kids and teens. Parents can use Snapchat’s parental control feature to keep their kids safe, but they can’t see the snaps their children send and receive and can’t protect them from engaging in unsafe behavior. As an alternative, you can use FamiGuard Pro, a comprehensive platform to monitor your kids' online activity, including the chats and snaps they send and receive. So download and try it now!

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