Should Moms be on Snapchat?

Is your daughter or son already on Snapchat?  Snapchat is widely popular with young people.  Check out these Snapchat statistics (1, 2):

•  Over 100 million users
•  More than half of Snapchatters are female
•  75% of Snapchatters are under 25 years old
•  A majority of users from the US, though it has a global user base
•  An unbelievable 77% of college students in the US use Snapchat daily
•  There are 700 million Snapchats are sent every day
•  Snapchatters receive 400 million snaps a day
•  88% of these snaps are sent to just one other person
•  The average Snapchatter receives  between 20-50 snaps a day
•  Snapchat estimates that teens are now receiving more snaps a day than texts

Wow, Snapchat has been growing like gang busters!  Snapchat is not going away, in fact, its users are growing rapidly each day.  Snapchat is the next Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.  It is growing a huge user base and growing at a phenomenal pace.

T(w)eens aren’t just checking Snapchat occasionally, they check it and send snaps numerous times a day.  Should moms be on Snapchat? Let’s look at Snapchat a little deeper…

What is Snapchat?

So, what is Snapchat?  We discussed it in more detail in our article for parents, Popular Apps for Teens Your Child is Using, where we wrote about why teens love it and what parents should watch out for.

Snaps refer to each photo or video a person takes using Snapchat.  Users can use filters and draw images and emojis on their picture as well as determine how long the recipients can view the picture before it disappears (anywhere from 1-10 seconds.)

Here is a snap my daughter took using a “filter.”  Snapchat can bring out your goofy side.  Thankfully, her school pictures turned out better than this one!

Filters are one of the main reasons t(w)eens are addicted to Snapchat.  There are typically 10 filters offered each day and about 2-3 of them are new, which keeps users coming back.  The filters are hilarious at times and it’s fun to see which ones Snapchat will serve up next.  

Sometimes certain filters will be repeated every couple of weeks or months or so.  At other times, filters are sponsored by a brand and are only available one day.  So you can see the lure to want to come back each day.  I know, because I’m curious!

Isn’t All About Sexting?

But what about all of the ugly things you’ve heard about Snapchat?

Snapchat has gotten a bad rap and rightfully so, as it has been used by teens and adults to share revealing pictures of themselves (sexting) to “friends” on Snapchat.  Teens send “snaps” to others thinking that the picture will disappear within seconds and vanish.  But nothing stops the receiver from videoing the snapchat or taking a screenshot.  “Private” snaps have surfaced in widely distributed emails and social channels.

Talking to your t(w)een about sharing appropriate and inappropriate things is an ongoing discussion.  New experiences and technology is changing in their lives constantly.  Remind them that when it comes to apps and the Internet, nothing is ever “private.”  Pull up some articles online of to show your t(w)een what happens when sexting occurs with minors.

But what about receiving inappropriate pictures from people your t(w)een doesn’t know?  I have had Snapchat for over a year now and I never received any inappropriate pictures.  Why?  Because my account was marked private and I only became friends with people in my phone address book or they had my phone number in their address book.  

HOWEVER, once I recently made my Snapchat profile public (so that Everyone could Contact Me) and added my name to an online Snapchat directory I found, I began receiving unsolicited snaps; some were very inappropriate.  I immediately blocked these people.  Make sure you help your t(w)een make all of their social channels private, especially Snapchat.

What’s Good About It?

I love my big lips in this snap, they have never been fuller and I didn’t need the use of needles to do it!

But Snapchat also has a fun more innocent side to it.  In fact, it is this fun side that is so alluring to  t(w)eens.  Snapchat uses built-in selfie lenses (filters) where you can see yourself in the Snapchat camera and press and hold your face for a couple of seconds.  Once you do this, a bunch of little circles with pictures in them pop up at the bottom of your phone screen.  

These circles are filters where you can turn yourself into a dog, turn your face into weird contortions, turn into a prisoner, wear a Kentucky Derby hat, and a bunch of other fun selfies.  In fact, Snapchat changes some of them out everyday, so it’s every enticing to visit your Snapchat app everyday to try out the new selfies.  And let me tell you, this is A LOT of fun.

My daughter, son, and I became a cartoon in this snap.  We took a lot of busses and subways on during our Summer vacation…as such, we took a lot of snaps!

My daughter and I have a blast doing these together.  You can save the selfies to your phone’s storage, send the snap to one or multiple people, and or add it to My Story – which is basically a collection of any snaps you’ve taken that you’d like either all of your friends to see or all of the public to see (if your profile is public and people have your username to see them). Just like the snaps you send to others, My Story snaps only last 24 hours.

I’ll go as far to say that Snapchat is a bit addictive with these fun filters.  You also have the option to save your selfie pictures to your phone.  I save more to my phone than I send out.  But what I love most about Snapchat, is that it allows me to goof off and bond with my daughter.  It allows me to “play” with her on something she (and her generation) innately enjoys.

Why Should Moms Be on Snapchat?

This snap, which is always available, allows you to trade faces with a friend.  You can actually see how each other looks live before you snap a picture.  I love my wrinkle-free skin!  Again, no needles needed!

So why should moms be on snapchat?  It’s simple.  

1.  You need to know what the allure is for your t(w)een
2.  You’ll better understand the possible dangers
3.  You’ll know the Snapchat lingo better when talking to your t(w)een
4.  It’s fun, you’ll find that you’ll enjoy it
5.  It’s just another way you can strengthen the bond with your t(w)een
6.  It takes away a lot of the fear you have about Snapchat after hearing about all of the negativity

You’ll be surprised how many moms you know are already on Snapchat.  When you sign on Snapchat, look us up and add us.  You can send us messages and ask questions.  I’ll be happy to get back to you.  To add us…

1. Simply take a picture with your phone of our Snapchat handle image below.
2. Open up Snapchat and click on the white or yellow ghost on the top of the selfie screen.
3. Click on Add Friends.
4. Now click on Add by Snapcode.  Once you do this you’ll see the pictures in your camera roll.
5. Click on the photo you took with our Snapcode name.  Snapchat will scan the code and once identified, will add us as your friend.
6. Now send us a snap, ask us a question, or just send us a IM chat and we’ll respond back!

Our ADVICE

In order to appropriately set limits for your t(w)een, you need to understand Snapchat, this is why becoming a Snapchat user is important.  We recommend you do the following things…

1.  Download the Snapchat app and begin using it
2.  Find out more from Snapchat’s online help topics as you begin using it
3.  Check out this guide to help you understand Snapchat better and teach your kids on using it properly and securely
4.  Allow the app to search your contacts to see which friends or family is already using Snapchat
5.  Friend your daughter or son and begin sending them private snaps
6.  In Settings, under WHO CAN…and then under Contact Me, ensure your profile and your t(w)een has My Friends Selected (instead of Everyone)
7.  Show your child how to Block a person by pressing and holding on their Snapchat name and clicking on the Settings button to press the Block button
8.  Ensure your child NEVER adds their name to an online Snapchat directory – it only brings unsolicited and disturbing snaps.  If your child’s account is not pubic though, they will not receive these emails
9.  Enjoy sending Snaps with filters back and forth with your child – it’s a lot of fun

A Mom’s Perspective

As parents (and previous children ourselves) we know, there’s a certain intrigue to things that are forbidden to us.  If you tell your kids they can’t be on Snapchat, they’ll find a way to get on Snapchat without you knowing.  

It is so prevalent in their “culture” and it’s such a fun app that all of their friends are talking about, it will be hard to stay away.  Many times we as parents deny access to apps because of our fear of the unknown and the bad stories we hear about the app or social media.  

Should moms be on Snapchat?  Yes.  Instead of coming from fear, use popular teen apps as a way to learn more about the apps and your child by getting an account yourself.  This way you can more wisely guide your child through virtual bumps in the road rather than not having an idea of what your child is doing on an app.

And you’ll find along the way, that they app they are using is probably quite fun or useful.  If nothing else, getting your own account allows you to interact in your child’s world in a way where you did not have access before.  You can also view the friends s/he has on his/her account.

So, should you decide to get a Snapchat account, look me up.  Our account is wellconnectdmom.  Do you have any Snapchat stories to share, good or bad, leave them below in Comments.  Also, answer for us, should moms be on Snapchat?  How do you weigh in?

* Should Moms Be on Snapchat?  Yes, and guess what? Encourage other moms to come on board Snapchat too so you can have fun with your girlfriends.