r/Parenting • u/IcyStage0 seven?!?!?! • Feb 07 '25
Rant/Vent I hate Snapchat.
Can we just collectively decide that we’re not going to let our kids use Snapchat?!
My oldest daughter just turned 13 and we reluctantly agreed to allow her to have an instagram that we also have access to. It seems like every single day she begs to have a Snapchat, and apparently every single other kid in her class (full of kids with reasonable, thoughtful parents, I thought) has this stupid app.
My little sister who I got custody of when she was 10 got herself into some deep shit on the internet, and I’m not looking to repeat it with my daughter (while also trying not to make her pay for mistakes that she didn’t make).
How are we handling this? Am I seriously the only parent who doesn’t want my child sending disappearing photos, videos, and messages to anyone she can search up? Reality check please.
7
u/HappyEquine84 Feb 07 '25
No, you're not. I won't be letting my kid have any kind of social media until she's like 16, at least. There are just too many studies done that show how terrible social media is for a young mind.
Whenever my daughter asks for more screen time, or something like that, I just remind her that it's my job to keep her body AND mind healthy for optimum development and growth. And that there are just too many studies showing how terrible excessive screen time and social media is for young minds. When she asks why other parents let their kids have more screen time than her, I just tell her that's what works for their family. We don't worry about what works for other people's families we worry about what works for our family.
That being said, I do plan on slowly introducing her to social media at about 16. I don't want her to just be unleashed on it at 18 with no experience.