Now a days Snapchat is favourite of teenagers, famous for its disappearing messages and changing features. Although it provides innovative modes of communication, it also poses difficulties for parental monitoring. Taking note of this, Snapchat has launched tools such as the Family Center to assist parents in monitoring and directing their children’s online activities.
MEET SNAPCHAT’S FAMILY CENTER
Family Center is Snapchat’s own parental control service intended to give parents an idea of what their teenager is doing on the platform. It enables parents to:
- See their teenager’s friend list.
- Identify with whom their teenager has been in contact over the last seven days.
- Submit suspicious accounts to Snapchat directly.
It should be noted that although the Family Center provides visibility into interactions, it does not grant access to message content, maintaining user privacy.
CONFIGURING THE FAMILY CENTER: STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
- Create a Snapchat Account: If you haven’t yet, download Snapchat and create an account.
- Add Your Teen as a Friend: Look up your teen’s username and send a friend request.
- Access Settings: Tap the gear icon after tapping your profile icon to access Settings.
- Go to Family Center: Scroll to the “Privacy Controls” category and tap “Family Center.”
- Send Invitation: Tap “Add Teen” and choose your child’s profile to send an invitation.
- Teen Accepts Invitation: Your teen will be alerted to accept your invitation. When accepted, you’ll have access to their interaction insights.
STRENGTHENING PRIVACY AND SAFETY SETTINGS
Outside of the Family Center, consider modifying the following settings on your teenager’s Snapchat account:
- Who Can Contact Me: Changed to “Friends” so that only authorized contacts can message.
- View My Story: Restricted to “Friends” or create a custom list to limit who can see stories.
- See My Location: Turn on “Ghost Mode” to avoid sharing real-time location.
- Quick Add: Turn off to stop your teenager’s profile from showing up in others’ suggestions.
- Mobile Number Discovery: Switch off the feature that enables other people to locate your teenager via their phone number.
EDUCATE AND COMMUNICATE
Tools and settings are useful, but open communication is key. Talk about online safety, how their personal information can be at risk if shared online, and ask your teen to come to you with issues. Regular conversations can create confidence and make your teen feel comfortable seeking your help in their online adventures.
CONSIDER THIRD-PARTY MONITORING TOOLS
For parents seeking more comprehensive oversight, third-party applications like Parentaler offer features such as:
- Detailed message monitoring.
- Real-time location tracking.
- Screen time management.
- Web content filtering.
These tools can complement Snapchat’s built-in features, providing a more robust safety net.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
It takes both technological means and open communication to guide your teenager through the world of the internet. Through Snapchat’s Family Center, control of privacy settings, and constant communication about online security, you can help your teenager have a safer and better experience on the platform.
