- Official min age
- 13+
- Users
- 800 million monthly active users
- Content types
- Disappearing photos Disappearing video Stories Live video Direct messaging
What is Snapchat?
Snapchat is a multimedia messaging app where photos and videos — called Snaps — disappear after being viewed. Launched in 2011, it popularised the concept of ephemeral content and introduced the Stories format, which was later copied by Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms.
The app includes a Discover section with content from publishers and creators, a Map feature showing where friends are located, and AR-powered Lenses for altering appearance in real time. Snapchat has a strong social graph based on real-world friendship networks and maintains "streaks" — consecutive days of snapping with a friend — which are a major engagement mechanism for younger users.
What parents should know
The disappearing nature of Snaps creates a false sense of privacy. Screenshots can be taken, and third-party apps exist specifically to save Snapchat content without the sender being notified. This has made the platform a channel for sharing explicit images, and it has historically been associated with sexting among teenagers.
The Snap Map shows a child's precise location to their friends by default. While this can be changed to Ghost Mode, children should understand how to do this. The Discover feed can surface sponsored content, celebrity content, and articles that may not be appropriate for younger teens.
Key risks include the sharing of explicit images under the assumption they will disappear, contact from strangers, location exposure via Snap Map, and exposure to adult content in the Discover section. Snapchat has been misused to groom children due to its ephemeral nature. Parents should discuss the permanence of digital content and review privacy settings together.
Current trends on Snapchat
No trends found