Social Media for Parents How can I help my child navigate social media? Topic of the month: Snapchat What is Snapchat?

● A social media site for sharing multimedia messages, called “Snaps.” ● Snaps are designed to disappear after a user selected amount of time, and are no longer available to the recipient after they disappear. ● Has a fun filter feature that allows users to transform their faces and/or surroundings. ○ Younger children like this app because of the fun filter features. You can change your face into an old lady, a dog, a person wearing a lot of makeup, and so much more. Filters change often. ● Users can add stickers, text, and special effects to the Snaps. ● Snapchat’s policy is that no one under the age of 13 should be using it. ○ Common Sense Media recommends this app for users over the age of 16 ● This app was created for the purpose of sending inappropriate pictures, aka “sexting,” because they “disappear” after viewed. Features of Snapchat Names of contacts appear next to their Bitmoji-these are ● Snaps have fun filters, stickers, and text options. blurred for privacy purposes. ● Messages disappear after viewed, however ANYONE that receives a

Snap, can screenshot an image to save on their device. Start new ● Users use Snapchat to text friends and groups via the chat feature chat(texting) or group chat ● Text and photos can be shared via the chat feature, and these DO NOT here. disappear. List of ● “Stories” can be shared with all friends, and remain viewable for 24 contacts/ hours. friends on Snap ● Discover feature brings uses to public postings, articles, news stories from different sources. ● Snapchat awards users with special “trophies” if users create “Snap Click here for public Snap Streaks,” when two users consecutively snap each other three days in posts, articles, a row. Streaks keep track of the days in the streak. This gamification and celebrity snaps. This can create instances where children rely heavily on using the app, in Create new content can be Snap using inappropriate. an unhealthy way. this button Features continued...

Hit the “T” to add text to image. Tap Change camera between the pencil icon to draw on the rear facing and forward image. Hit the square to add facing. stickers. The scissors allow you to cut out a piece of your snap and move it around on the screen. The crop tool allows you to adjust the size of the snap. The link icon can Access other tools like, add a web link to the snap. multi-snap (posts more than one snap to story), a timer, Tap the timer to adjust the amount and focusing tool of time the photo will be available to the receiver. If you choose the infinity symbol, the picture will stay open as long as the viewer wants it to look at it, and then will disappear.

Hit the smiley face to access all fun filters. Swipe right to go through The button on the left allows you to filters or left to access games. save photo to your phone’s camera roll. The square with a plus sign adds the photo to your “Story” which is accessible to contacts for 24 hours. The blue arrow is how you send a snap to contacts. “Discover” feature

Where you see ● Discover feature is accessed by clicking the two rectangles on friends’ stories- available for 24 bottom right side of screen (circled on image) hours to all friends/followers. ● In order to see Friends’ Stories you must be in the Discovery section of Snapchat ● Often has celebrity content, ads, and stories that users publicly Snapchat generated content. Includes post. celebrity posts, tabloid content, users’ public ● This content is not always age appropriate for kids. posts, and other odd stories. Stories can be ● If you Swipe Left you will be brought to “Shows” that are posted sent to users’ friends. You can also subscribe only on Snapchat, that are often sensational and full of ads. to certain stories and publishers here. This ● Snapchat uses your data (who you follow, what you subscribe content changes all the to, what ads you click on etc), to tailor this content to individual time. users. Important Privacy Settings

First, tap to access ● Snap Map, when turned on, allows the users’ settings Then, tap cog to access photos to be geotagged on a map. It will settings display the exact location of the user at all Lastly, Use times, to all Snapchat users! the “Who Can” section to limit who ○ Be sure to shut off this feature in settings. can contact you, view ● You can limit who sees your content, who can your story, see your location, or find you on Snap, and what information you see you in quick add. share, through the Settings button. ● Block users that you do not want to have access to your content. Tips for Safety

● Snapchat is very difficult for parents to monitor since the content ● Create a Snapchat account and friend your child. Follow their virtually disappears after being sent. This means it’s very friends if possible. You will be able to see only what they important to have conversations around the appropriate use of post to their “story.” the app. ● Don’t let your child take their phone to bed or store it in their ● Remind children that even though messages “disappear” from bedroom. the app after a certain amount of time, any person they send a ● Monitor your child’s friends. If you think posts are Snap to has the ability to Screenshot an image, and save it for inappropriate for your child to see, talk about why they later use. Which means, it never truly “disappears.” should unfollow that user. ● An important question to ask children: If you’re sending a photo ● Limit screen time to help children have balance of screen you WANT to disappear, is it appropriate for sending? Would you time vs other activities. send that photo via text, where it can be saved forever? If not, ● Install a third-party monitoring app. Bark can be used to see you shouldn’t send it. what kids are doing on their devices. Bark can monitor texts ● Keep your child’s login information and password somewhere in Snapchat, but not disappearing snaps sent. you can easily access if needed. Resources

How Snapchat made Sexting More Mainstream

Parent’s Ultimate Guide to Snapchat

Common Sense Media’s App Review & Safety Rating

More detailed look at Privacy Settings in Snapchat

Snapchat Online Support Center

What does Snapchat do with my data and information?