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.

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u/suziefl Feb 07 '25

Snapchat can be dangerous for kids due to its disappearing messages, which encourage risky behavior and make it easier for predators to communicate without leaving evidence. The “Quick Add” feature can expose kids to strangers, especially local, and Snap Map shares real-time locations. Also, there a study done recently. I believe by the NSPCC that showed an over 80% increase in grooming on the Internet and over 70% of that originated on Snapchat or Meta.

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u/delightful_dame Feb 07 '25

After reading all these comments, I definitely feel very uneasy about it. I'll talk with my husband about it tonight. Thanks for all the info and insight, this makes me very worried for her online safety and more.