Snapchat sexting has never been safe, but how users can do

Sexting among kids has become a major concern in recent years, leading to issues like cyberbullying, blackmailing, and constant trauma, which can last a lifetime. Most importantly, Snapchat sexting users are on the rise due to the disappearing messages of this app which promotes such activities. So, if you wanna know about this issue and how to tackle it, keep reading!

What is Snapchat sexting?

“Snapchat sexting means they are sending sexual messages, photos, and videos through the app.”

If you don’t know Snapchat then in simple words it is a multimedia messaging app where messages referred to as snaps disappear after a short time.

We all know that sexting is a common problem with all platforms, but teens sexting on Snapchat has deep roots for two main reasons;

• There is no profile photo
• Most parents don’t use Snapchat as it is a very new app
• Kids change the name of their profile so it is impossible to track them by parents
• The disappearing feature promotes confidence in teens that even if they send vulgar messages & photos, they will get deleted immediately.

So, basically, teen uses bold and sexy images in their stories, especially on Snaps, which when seen by others cause a seduction and from there the chatting starts. Due to disappearing features, both person do sexting openly and end up sending their nude pictures.

It is worth noting that Snapchat has a timer feature which allows the sender to set a time on viewing like 1 ~ 10 seconds or infinity ( until the recipient closes the snap ). Plus, if others take a screenshot, the sender will know. However, most teen users don’t know there are many apps, which can record snaps without ever knowing the sender, so there are many Snapchat sexting risks.

At what age do kids start sexting?

According to a study done by the Jiminy parenting apps, it is found that sexting starts as early as 8 years old, which is alarming for parents. Almost 1 out of 10 children with a smartphone is exposed to it. By the age of 13, the ratio increased to 33% and by the age of 16, this number almost doubled.

Furthermore, sexting not only includes text messages but also sending nudes, which in this digital world can ruin a child’s life if gets leaked. In this sexting issue, teen sexting on Snapchat is the most used platform so every parent must monitor their kids and help them save from Snapchat sexting dangers.

Why is Snapchat sexting not safe for teens?

Sexting is never safe for teen users on Snapchat, no matter the platform they are using because all of them are unsecure. Here are some Snapchat sexting consequences which the teen users may face;

• Leaked Privacy. Despite the disappearing messages on Snapchat’s platform, the recipient can take shots or screen record your content without you knowing. However, this doesn’t save your photo from being shared further, even though the sender is notified when someone screenshots their snap. Additionally, there are other third-party applications that allow users to save snaps while notifying the sender. This puts explicit content privacy at risk.
• Blackmailing. People who receive explicit materials use them to force others into providing more images or something else in return.
• Trust Issues. Once known by the family members, they don’t trust their kids anymore. This leads to feelings of being lonely, loss of self-esteem, and maybe even suicidal thoughts.
• Cyberbullying and Reputation Damage. Once exposed to a wider audience, these pictures may lead to embarrassment and bullying or personal/professional reputation damage. Such victims might be very emotional.
• Legal Implications. Acts of sexting involving minors can result in serious legal consequences. And charges will range from making child pornography (possession and distribution) among others. It could have serious consequences for anybody sharing these images if done so without consent.

Signs that teens might be sexting on Snapchat

Humans are social beings and we like to express ourselves, if not by words then by action or behaviour. Similarly, if teen users are involved in Snapchat sexting, then you will observe the following signs;

• Mobile addiction. A sudden increase in Snapchat activity, especially late at night can be a huge warning sign.
• Hide their screen. An inexplicable secrecy can surround the phone or online activities of teenagers. They could hide their screens when using Snapchat, close them quickly when someone comes near them or refuse to talk about what they are doing on the internet.
• Advanced Privacy Measures. Children will start to lock their phones and not share passwords with anyone else.
• Waiting for messages. Teens might also exhibit a constant need to check their phones for new messages or snaps​.
• Chats deletion. Teens might start having more private conversations with certain contacts, often deleting these conversations immediately after they happen or using Snapchat’s disappearing chat feature​.
• Snapchat Privacy Settings. If there is sexting going on, teens may change the settings of their Snapchat accounts so that only a few people can view their sends. They may also use Snapchat’s “My Eyes Only” security feature to save personal pictures​.
• Third-Party Apps. Any curiosity concerning third-party apps made specifically for saving flash shots from Snapchat ( without informing the sender ) might imply that such individuals are engaged in sexting. These apps usually bypass the Snapchat notifications system, allowing users to save snaps secretly.
• Mood Swings. Anxiety, stress and other mood swings may result due to engaging in such actions particularly if one is worried about the consequences that would follow after such acts or being forced by another party into sharing inappropriate materials.
• Withdrawal from Activities. A teenager may feel overpowered with emotions or even embarrassed because of engaging in sexting. This can lead to self-isolation and withdrawal from family activities, social interactions, and school commitments.

How should parents talk to their teens about Snapchat sexting?

If you want teen users to stay safe from cyberbullying, blackmailing, and other harms of Snapchat sexting, then as a parent you can follow the below tips and they will help you in preventing sexting on Snapchat;

Stop being judgemental:

The first thing you should do is get more open-minded and stay cool. Unless you do this, you won’t be friends with your kids, and they will never share anything. You should realize your kids that you won’t beat them or get angry if they are doing something wrong. A parent must always be supportive and guide their kid with knowledge & love, not strictness.

Aware your kids of potential dangers

You must create a habit of talking about Snapchat sexting safety with your kids. Also you need to create a free environment where everybody can share openly. Moreover, you should teach kids about the consequences of sending sex messages and nude media, like leaked content, cyberbullying, emotional damage, reputation degradation, and so on. Long-term self-control comes from reason not from blind rules.

Be a good listener

The most important factor in good parenting and getting your kid to share their deepest secrets is to be a good listener. Most parents make the mistake of only giving lectures and never listening to the kid’s side of the problem, making them think their parents will never understand. So, always listen with an open mind.

Respect for others

You should teach your kids not only how to save themself but also how to respect others’ privacy. Teach them how they would feel if someone leaked their inappropriate images. Finally, also tell them about the legal action that they have to face if they share someone’s content without their consent.

Support, not criticize:

You must keep watching your kids by noting their behaviour, mood swings, and spying tools. If you notice something wrong, be a hand of help not of criticism because they are already in problem and may even suicide if they think that there is no one that can help them.

Balance their screen time

Finally, these days kids are addicted to phones and most of the social media is based on adultery, which leads to sexting issues. So, to safeguard your kids, you should make a limited schedule for mobile usage which lessens their exposure and chances of falling into bad habits.

How to prevent Snapchat sexting?

Always keep in mind that you may be able to delay this sexting issue for your kids but you will never be able to stop it from happening. So, once that time comes, you have to be ready and stop your kid’s inappropriate photos & videos from being shared on the internet.

The problem here is kids don’t allow others to see their phones, especially teenagers, so it becomes nearly impossible for parents to know whom they are talking to and what they are discussing on Snapchat. No worry, because with modern parental control apps like FlashGet Kids, parents can easily solve this problem.

FlashGet Kids: One in-all Snapchat sexting preventing the app

• Usage report. This feature gives you insights into how they play phone and how long they have engaged in social media and messaging apps like Snapchat, WhatsApp and TikTok.
• Keyword detection. With these settings, you can add certain keywords like sex, nude, or someone’s name and whenever your kids type that word in Snapchat, an instant alert is sent to the parent’s phone.
• Screen mirroring. This feature can allow parents to mirror their kid’s phone screen on their’s from anywhere in the world which makes it really easy to see whom they are talking to on Snapchat.
• Screen time limit. You can set a time limit to limit their app use.

How to use FlashGet Kids?

First of all, you need to set up this app on the kids and parents’ phones and for that;

• Go to Playstore or App Store to download FlashGet kids and create your account with Gmail. You will get a 9-digit passcode.
• On the kid’s phone, download the FlashGet kids app by visiting flashget.kids. Then enter the binding code by reading it from the parent’s phone. Give all permissions it needs.
• To use Usage report, open the FlashGet kids app on the parent’s phone > Usage reports ( 1st option at the top ).
• Scroll down and click on App usage time > Snapchat if you want to see how much time your kid has spent on it and during which hours of the day.
• To use Keyword detection, open the FlashGet kids app on your parents’ phone. And then scroll down and choose “Keyword detection.” Finally, add a list of prohibited keywords to monitor their content..
• Tap on the Screen Mirroring option. If you don’t wanna see a long video, you can also choose to get a snapshot from time to time.
• Scroll down and choose Usage Limits > App time limits > Search for Snapchat and set your desired usage time.

Takeaway: What parents need to be concerned about Snapchat

Sexting is a phase of life that everyone passes through at one point in their life. But at a very young age, it can lead to blackmailing and cyberbullying, which in the long term can affect your kid’s mental & physical health.

Most of the kids, being under constant stress, can’t focus on their studies and fall into drinking habits. In severe cases, some kids even commit suicide to be free from all the pain. So, every parent must save their kids from sexting and ensure they are aware of potential risks.

In this modern day and age, where a leaked photo only takes a few minutes to get viral on the internet, it is the duty of every parent to keep track of their kid’s phone via parental control apps like FlashGet Kids and save them.

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