Overview

Snapchat allows users to take and send photos, videos, and messages (called “snaps”) to friends and family members. Users can add filters, text, or handwriting to images and videos they take before sending them off to their favorite Snapchat friends. Snaps sent are available for an amount of time allotted by the user, up to ten seconds, and once that time is up, the message disappears permanently. Users can tell when someone has viewed or taken a screenshot of one of their snaps, as well as receive messages from other Snapchat friends. As with any social media platform, we strongly recommend parents monitor their children’s use of Snapchat. Parents should regularly verify the identities of their children’s Snapchat friends, maintain an open conversation about the use of Snapchat and other “ghost” apps,  and limit use of the app to kids 12 and older.