Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send photos and videos that disappear after they are viewed. The app has been praised for its privacy features, but it has also been criticized for its potential to be used for cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and other harmful behaviors.
In August 2022, Snapchat announced that it would be rolling out new parental controls. These new controls allow parents to see their children’s contacts, restrict who their children can add as friends, and set time limits on how much time their children can spend on the app.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up Snapchat’s parental controls:
- Open the Snapchat app on your child’s device.
- Tap on the profile icon in the top left corner of the screen.
- Scroll down and tap on “Manage Account.”
- Tap on “Family Center.”
- Tap on “Create Family Center.”
- Enter your email address and password.
- Follow the instructions to create a Family Center account.
- Once you have created a Family Center account, you can add your child to your family.
- To add your child to your family, tap on the “Add a Child” button.
- Enter your child’s name and date of birth.
- Tap on “Add Child.”
- Once you have added your child to your family, you can start using the parental controls.
What Snapchat parental controls are available?
- See your child’s contacts: Parents can see a list of their child’s contacts, including their names, phone numbers, and email addresses. This information can be helpful for parents who want to make sure that their child is not talking to strangers or people they don’t know well.
- Restrict who your child can add as friends: Parents can restrict who their child can add as friends. This can be helpful for parents who want to make sure that their child is not adding strangers or people they don’t know well.
- Set time limits: Parents can set time limits on how much time their child can spend on Snapchat. This can be helpful for parents who want to make sure that their child is not spending too much time on the app.
- Receive reports: Parents can receive reports about their child’s Snapchat activity. These reports include information about the number of snaps sent and received, the number of friends added, and the amount of time spent on the app.
Tips for using Snapchat’s parental controls
- Talk to your child about online safety. Make sure your child understands the risks of using social media and how to stay safe online.
- Monitor your child’s online activity. Regularly check your child’s Snapchat account to see who they are talking to, what they are posting, and how much time they are spending on the app.
- Set limits on your child’s Snapchat use. Decide how much time you want your child to spend on Snapchat each day and stick to your limits.
- Use Snapchat’s parental controls. Snapchat’s parental controls can help you keep your child safe online. Use them to see your child’s contacts, restrict who they can add as friends, set time limits, and receive reports about their activity.
What are the Pros and Cons of Snapchat’s parental controls?
Pros:
- Can help parents keep their children safe online. Parental controls can help parents monitor their children’s online activity and make sure they are not engaging in risky or harmful behavior.
- Can help parents set limits on their children’s screen time. Parental controls can help parents limit how much time their children spend on Snapchat, which can help reduce the risk of addiction and other problems.
- Can give parents some peace of mind. Knowing that they have the ability to monitor their children’s online activity can give parents peace of mind.
Cons:
- Parental controls are not a substitute for parental supervision. Parents should still talk to their children about online safety and monitor their online activity regularly.
- Parental controls can be difficult to use. Some parents may find it difficult to set up and use parental controls.
- Parental controls can be circumvented. Some children may be able to find ways to circumvent parental controls.
Looking for a better option?
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