Moreton School’s #WakeUpWednesday: What Parents and Carers Need to Know about Snapchat

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As part of our #WakeUpWednesday movement at Moreton School, we want to provide you with important information about Snapchat, a popular social media platform used by many young people. Snapchat allows users to send photos, videos, and messages that disappear after a short period of time, but it’s important to understand its features and potential risks.

Here’s what parents and carers need to know about Snapchat:

1. Content Can Be Temporary but Not Always: While Snapchat messages are designed to disappear after a short time, it’s important to remember that users can take screenshots or save content before it disappears. This means that content shared on Snapchat can potentially be saved and shared without the sender’s knowledge or consent.
2. Be Mindful of Privacy Settings: Snapchat offers various privacy settings that allow users to control who can send them snaps, view their stories, and contact them. It’s important to review and set privacy settings according to your child’s comfort level and safety. Encourage them to only accept friend requests and share content with people they know in real life.
3. Educate about Snap Map: Snapchat has a feature called Snap Map that allows users to share their location with their friends on a map. This can raise concerns about privacy and safety, as it reveals the user’s exact location. Make sure your child understands how Snap Map works and how to adjust their location settings to protect their privacy.
4. Discuss the Risks of Sexting: Snapchat is known for its disappearing messages, but it’s important to educate your child about the risks of sending explicit or inappropriate content through the app. Discuss the potential legal and social consequences of sexting, and emphasize the importance of responsible and respectful online behavior.
5. Talk about Stranger Danger: Snapchat allows users to receive friend requests and messages from strangers. It’s crucial to educate your child about the risks of communicating with strangers online and remind them to never share personal information or meet up with strangers they’ve connected with on Snapchat.
6. Monitor Time Spent on Snapchat: Similar to other social media platforms, Snapchat can be addictive and impact your child’s wellbeing if they spend excessive time on it. Set healthy limits on screen time and encourage your child to take breaks from the app to engage in other activities offline.
7. Encourage Reporting of Inappropriate Content: Instruct your child to report any inappropriate or harmful content they come across on Snapchat using the app’s reporting tools. This helps in maintaining a safe online environment for everyone.

Open and ongoing conversations with your child about their use of Snapchat and other social media platforms are essential. By staying informed, setting clear expectations, and promoting responsible digital citizenship, we can help our students navigate Snapchat and other online platforms safely.

Thank you for your partnership in promoting online safety for our students.

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