5 tips for parents to better understand SnapChat and promote developing self-regulation
- Snapchat is often described as an app where pictures disappear after a certain amount of time, but this is not entirely accurate. The photos on Snapchat are timed and can last for as long as the sender chooses. However, the recipient of the photo can always capture a screenshot or use another camera device to take a photo without the sender’s knowledge. As a result, the photos on Snapchat are not actually disappearing.
- Snapchat users can earn a SnapScore by sending snaps. This score reflects a user’s in-app activity and can indicate how responsive and active they are on the platform. Users can check their friends’ SnapScores, and a higher score generally indicates a higher level of activity. However, this can sometimes cause tension if someone’s score is significantly higher than their friend’s, leading to questions like “Why didn’t they respond to my snap when their SnapScore is so high?”
- Snapchat has a feature that enables you to share your location with others. The feature was introduced in 2017, and it allows you to send your location to people. Your location updates every time you log in to Snapchat, and people can see your current location and the last time you were active on the app.
- Snapchat added a feature called Private Stories. It allows users to create stories that are only visible to a select group of people, rather than all of their friends. This feature is commonly used for more selective content and lets users hand-pick the viewers for each story. However, it can also lead to conflicts if someone is left out of a private story they were expecting to be included in. Users can see if they’ve been added (or not) to a private story by their friends.
- It is essential to keep in mind that your Snapchat profile username is visible to every user, and anyone can Quick Add you. While it is up to you to decide whether to accept or decline the request, Snapchat may promote your username to other users, including strangers. This can potentially expose minors to unknown individuals, so it is vital to be careful about whom you add on Snapchat.
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https://www.wsj.com/tech/personal-tech/new-snapchat-feature-teen-insecurity-754ebae0
Snapchat turns off controversial ‘Solar System’ feature by default after bad press
Snapchat has tweaked its “solar system” feature after a report by The Wall St. Journal highlighted that it was causing anxiety among teenagers. The feature displayed user’s status in their Snapchat friends’ solar system, indicating how close they were to them by default.