Why do kids love Snapchat so much?
According to J. Antropik, “Snapchat” is one of the most dynamic and creativity-stimulating apps on the market, so children are very quickly fascinated by its possibilities and functions.
Snapchat is characterized by the ability to host messages or photos only temporarily, which creates a sense of spontaneity. Such communication is easier, there is no pressure, because sent messages or uploaded photos are stored for only 24 hours. In addition, the app is full of a variety of filters and effects that children love, allowing you to creatively and fun change your selfies and videos. This appeals to children’s love for games and creativity,” the expert notes.
According to her, the Snapchat platform promotes community, young people can gather in private groups and share more personal content that is available only to those closest to them. “Children are extremely social and constantly looking for connection with their peers, so this informal and visual nature of the app corresponds exactly to what the youngest generation likes the most – to communicate constantly, quickly and visually,” says the head of digital content.
Is Snapchat safe for kids to use?
According to Mr. Antropik, although at first glance the app is extremely cheerful, colorful and visually appealing, parents often wonder if it is safe for their child to communicate and share their photos here. The expert singles out several aspects that worry specialists about the safety of children spending their time here:
Children ignore the age requirement. Snapchat’s official age requirement is 13, but younger kids can still use the app by providing a false date of birth. While the SnapKidz feature was previously intended for users under the age of 13, it has been discontinued. Children using Snapchat now have access to the full version, which can expose them to inappropriate content.
Privacy gaps. Children can potentially communicate with strangers on the app if their privacy settings are not properly configured. They may receive messages from unknown users, putting them at risk of encountering inappropriate content or online scams. Additionally, the app’s Snap Map feature can reveal your child’s location to friends, and if the settings aren’t set up properly, even to strangers.
Invalid content. The app has a Discover section where the content you see may not be suitable for children’s age.
Risk of being bullied. The messaging and sharing features on this platform can be used for cyberbullying. The temporary nature of the messages can make it more difficult for parents or guardians to monitor and address such behavior.
There are no strictly regulated parental controls. Unlike some other social media apps, Snapchat does not have extensive parental control features. This makes it more difficult for parents to monitor their child’s activity on the platform.
What can be done to keep a child’s time online safe?
According to Mr. Antropik, the child’s safe time not only on Snapchat, but also on the Internet in general can be ensured by parents initiating a conversation with their child about responsible behavior in the virtual space and reviewing the privacy settings of various apps.
“It is especially important for parents to talk to their children about online dangers and safe behavior when using popular social platforms. It is necessary to emphasize to children that the apps that young people love so much are not only used by their peers – online fraudsters can also take advantage of children’s naivety and violate their privacy,” says the expert.
She reminds that Tele2 provides an Internet protection service that is extremely popular among parents and can be ordered at the operator’s self-service. Parents who have subscribed to this service can limit the use of the desired apps on their children’s phones. Also, the protection implemented at the Tele2 network level automatically detects malicious pages and blocks access to them. Customers who have activated the notification option in the settings are informed about these threats by SMS message or e-mail. by letters.
2024-09-02 16:03:27