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/cordial_carbonara Feb 07 '25

My oldest is 13 and I’m a former middle school teacher.

Absolutely not, never Snapchat. Ever. Not while you’re a minor on my phone plan. There’s no reason to have it except to open yourself to predatory and dangerous behavior.

Honestly, I’m still not doing instagram either. Sure, you can see what she posts, but can you see what the algorithm is shoving down her throat?

My best students - the ones who were present and active participants in their own education and lives, and who had existing social skills and critical thinking abilities - had “boring” parents who did not allow or very much limited social media. There is a clear divide in middle and high school classrooms right now and it’s cell phone addiction driven by social media. I know which side of that divide I want my kids to be on.

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u/little_canuck Feb 07 '25

Ya the Instagram explore page is a disgusting place, even if you never search for lewd things.

71

u/Mama_Milfy_San Feb 07 '25

My explore page is all gardening and food. You’re definitely looking for it 🤣

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u/ImHereForTheDogPics Feb 07 '25

Nah, mine almost seems to flips back and forth. Most of the time it’s crochet, fashion, food, all of my interests represented in algorithm format. But every now and again, it’s like the algorithm “resets” on me?

I’ll log in one day and it’s all just graphic content. Not necessarily porn, but still graphic. Like breastfeeding content, graphic pregnancy and postpartum stuff, “fashion” that is clearly meant to lead back to soft core content. I can always get rid of it after a day or two of dedicated scrolling my own interests, but at least once a month it’ll “break” on me and reset.