10 things parents and kids should know about the SnapChat app

The digital world we live in makes “do-overs" difficult. Snapchat's a tool that can be used for fun, instant connections with loved ones. Used inappropriately it can have dire consequences. Here are 10 things you should know before installing it.

    As more parents and grandparents embrace Facebook, teens seem to gravitate towards newer forms of social media. They are weary of mom posting old photos of them and telling family stories, no matter how cute and adorable their parents think they are.

    A popular app among teens is Snapchat, a free photo and video sharing app. Teenagers love the ability to "share a silly moment" with their friends, and in less than 10 seconds it disappears. Being informed and setting family social media rules can help guide children through a digital maze that may otherwise lead to heartache or disaster.

    Here are 10 things parents and kids should know about the Snapchat app before deciding whether or not to use it.

1. It's easy to use. Teens find it a fun way to stay in touch with close friends by sharing crazy photos while at the mall, at school (there are probably rules against that), or anywhere else. It's a digital communication tool and, as such, can be used for good or bad. Discussing appropriate use of Snapchat with your teens can help prevent problems if you decide to allow them to use it.
2. Some teens assume that because video and photo texts or "Snaps" as they are called, disappear in just a few seconds the app is totally harmless. However, photos can be saved as screenshots. This is worrisome for parents because they have no control over what comes across their teenager's screen at any given moment. It also could become fodder for future cyber bullying.
3. Snapchat has "Terms of Use" that need to be read and discussed. These terms include verifying the user is at least 13 years of age and, if under age 18, they have parental permission. The user also agrees to grant Snapchat access to their address book and allows it to upload that information to its servers. Now you have just shared private contact information on your family and friends without their permission.
4. When you send a Snap to someone via "Snapchat" you give Snapchat a "nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, create derivative works from, distribute, perform and display such user content in connection with the services, subject to your use of privacy settings in the services to control who can see your user content." See Terms of Use.
5. Once you create a Snapchat account, you accept total responsibility for whatever activity occurs while you are logged on. One 15-year-old boy exchanged Snaps with a 14-year-old girl. At first, they were fun. Soon she was sending photos of her wearing just her underwear. Eventually she sent some Snaps showing her topless. The boy saved them. When his mother discovered the pictures, she was shocked and checked the state laws. Because the girl was 14, it was considered child pornography possession for her son to have those photos on his phone. The girl's parents could press charges, and he most likely would have to register as a sex offender. Fortunately, this was handled between the families involved and a very serious situation was averted. (This information is from a personal interview with the mother).
6. Even for kids who are careful and use precautions in what they send out and to whom they send it to, the fact exists that once anything it posted online, it is public – even if the picture disappears in a matter of seconds. It's still possible for anything you post to catch up with you. According to Adam McLane, "There's no such thing as anonymity online, only perceived anonymity. Any time your device connects to the Internet it associates 100 percent of your activity with your device. (Every device has a unique identifier, like a fingerprint. When you buy it and register it, that transaction is linked to you and everything you do with it is ultimately pointing back to you)."
7. A modified version, "Snapkidz," is available for children younger than 13. They can still take Snaps, draw on them and create captions. However, the similarities end there. The function of sending or receiving Snaps is not supported. The entire experience occurs on the user's device where their Snaps are saved.
8. Some Snapchat users may be surprised that forensic experts claim any data can be retrieved from one's cell phone, even after the images have been deleted. See the article, "Forensic experts poke holes in Snapchat and Facebook."
9. Verizon offers good information for parents: "What Parents Need to Know about Snapchat." There is a legitimate concern that Snapchat could be used for "sexting" – sending sexually suggestive pictures or even nude pictures. Help teens realize that with the screen capture capability, it's possible for private pictures to be circulated on the Internet.
10. Talk to your teens about Snapchat and all forms of social media. Find common ground you can agree on. Today's teens are technologically savvy. Let them teach you about the apps they like to use and why. Make sure teens realize that what they post now could surface later in life when they least expect it. One's online presence leaves a trail. Help them make smart decisions to keep themselves and their reputations safe.

This digital age makes "do-overs" more difficult. Remember, the only sure way an improper video or photo never gets distributed at-large is to not put it out there in the first place. Let's all learn to use technology for all the good it can produce and for recording the precious moments of our lives.

Adding Filter To Your SNAPS

In addition to the draw, text, and sticker tools, you can also modify your snaps with different filters.  For example, these filters might change the color balance of your snap, turn it black, or change up the speed at which your video snaps play.  Others yet show your current battery life on screen, display the time when the snap was taken, or display your current speed while traveling.

Adding filters is simple:  Once you’ve taken a picture or video, simply swipe left or right anywhere on the screen to scroll through available filters.  Some filters are enabled based on your location, and may include prominent landmarks from the area you’re in or the name of a city. 

Here’s a look at me using the Snapchat location-based filter (officially called a geo filter) for Stockholm the day I found out my Swedish work permit had been granted (hooray!):

 

• Using ‘LENSES’

 Lenses are a bit sillier and initially less intuitive than filters, so they may never make it into your content strategy, but at least this way if you get a snap where someone’s face is distorted into some sort of horrifying rabbit or gigantic-eyed anime character you’ll know what’s going on.  Basically, lenses recognize faces in the camera space and can apply various masks and distortions to them.

To try out a lense, you’ll need head to the home/camera screen then press and hold down anywhere on the screen before you’ve take a picture or started recording your video, and while the camera is aimed at a human face.  After holding down for a second or two, a series of filters to choose from will pop up near the bottom of the screen.  Most of them are pretty weird.

Once you’ve swiped left or right to a lens you want to try, your face will be detected and the filter applied.  Now you’re free to press or hold the camera button to record your snap, and the lens will follow your face throughout.

The feature is just whacky and fun right now, but there may be the opportunity to add cool geo-triggered lenses in the future (“Snapping from your place or work?  Here’s a suit and tie lens!”, etc.).  Come to think of it, maybe a more appropriate lens for snapping from work puts you in a “Slacker” t-shirt – food for thought.

• Get White And Black As Ink Colors

Normally, white and black aren’t available as ink colors for drawing on your snaps… but you can make them appear with a little bit of insider know-how.

First, tap the pencil to bring up the normal color selector.  Now, for white ink, press anywhere on the color bar and drag all the way to the left of your screen until the color indicator turns to white.  To use black ink, just press on the bar again and drag all the way to the bottom of the screen.  Check the image below for reference.

• Upload Content Creted Outside SnapChat

If you look at the content some brands are putting out, especially those with channels featured in Discover, it becomes obvious that they aren’t creating all of their snaps from within Snapchat’s editor.

Several third party apps, available on the iOS App Store and Google Play Marketplace, allow you to upload pre-created photos and videos from your camera roll and then save them as snaps for your story or to send to other people.

A word of caution:  While it’s tempting to whip up nice graphics in photoshop and use an uploader to send your creations out to your snap friends, don’t lose that raw, behind the scenes feel that the platform services so well (and that many people might be following you for!).

A popular app for uploading outside content in this way is called ‘Snap Upload for snapchat’ (while I can’t personally vouch for its security or stability, it has a five star rating after some 7,000 reviews on the app store, so you’re probably safe).

•  Repurposing Your SnapChat Content

Because Snapchat doesn’t have much in the way of internal search and discovery of other users, you’ll largely need to promote your Snapchat code and username on other platforms, and entice people to come follow you on the Snap.  One way to do this is to tap the download arrow on any snap after you’ve taken it (but before it’s sent).  Alternatively, you can save your story content by heading to the stories screen, tapping the vertical dots to the right of your name, then tapping any story element and finally pressing the download button.  The process looks something like this:

Once you’ve downloaded your own Snapchat content, you can post teasers of it on your other social channels to let people know what they’re missing!

Hint:  You can save your entire story at once by heading to the stories page, tapping the three vertical dots to expand your story, and then clicking the circle with the downward arrow in it.

• Privacy Setting For Maximum Exposure

In Snapchat’s settings screen, you can set your privacy settings to allow everyone to send you snaps and to view your story, rather than just those you’ve explicitly added as friends.  If you’re looking to grow your exposure or are managing a brand’s Snapchat, I suggest allowing everyone to interact with you.  Here’s a GIF, starting on your profile screen, that shows you how to ensure your settings are correct for this:

Taking & Editing A SNAP (Creating Content)

The entirety of your content creation tools for Snapchat lie on this screen.  Let’s go ahead and tap the camera button once to take a picture and see what we can do with it:

To delete the picture and try again, you can tap the x in the top right corner.  If you’re happy with what you’ve got, let’s add some text.  You can do this either by tapping the ‘T’ in the upper right hand corner, or by tapping anywhere on your screen/picture:

Type whatever you like and then tap any blank space in your picture to get out of typing mode.  You should have something like this:

 

If you wish to move the placement of your text, you can simply press the darkened bar to the left or right of your text, and drag it up or down with your finger.  Here’s what my snap looks like after repositioning:

Note:  If you would like to place larger text on your snap, you can simply tap the T icon again after typing to try a few different styles.

Not bad, but let’s spice it up some more.  Tap the pencil icon in the top right corner, then draw with your finger on the screen; I’ve gone ahead and pointed an arrow at my coworker:

 

You can change the color of the ink by pressing within the color bar under the pencil, and you can step backwards to undo mistakes with the backward arrow to the left of the pencil button.    Tap the pencil button itself when you’re finished to get out of drawing mode.

Finally, let’s add a sticker.  Stickers are just emojis that can be placed and resized on your snap to add a little extra character.  For this image, I’m going to add a laptop sticker to emphasize the office environment.

To add a sticker, tap the Post-It note looking icon next to the T.  You’ll get a library of emojis like the one below.  Scroll up, down, left, and right to take a look at everything that’s available, then tap the one you want to use.  Once it’s placed, use to fingers and pinch to rotate and resize your sticker.  When you’re done, you’ll have a snap like the one below, ready to send!

You are not required to add any text, stickers/emojis, or drawing elements to a snap before using it.  These are simply suggestions that can help to add character and context to the relatively short video and picture messages of the Snapchat platform.

A Note On Video:  In order to snap video, rather than a still image, simply hold down the camera button for up to 10 seconds, rather than tapping it; lift up your finger when you want the video to finish.  At this point, your video will loop continuously and you’ll have the same options to edit it (text, drawing, stickers) as before with a picture snap; editing and sharing video works exactly the same as sharing still images.

The Ultimate Guide For SnapChat

Demystifying the app your kids are obsessed with

Before I begin, apologies are in order. To the 310 million monthly active Snapchat users, many of whom are in their teens and early 20s: Sorry, but old people are about to crash your party. (I’m not even 40, and I’m one of them.)

To the hip kids who have grown up with the four-year-old short video sharing app: It is with regrets that admittedly I may even incorrectly explain some of how this service—with its myriad of odd features—works. (What do you care? You’re young and you know everything already. Why are you even here?) And finally, to the adults reading this to discover what they’ve been missing: Apologies, but Snapchat will show you things—like what you’d look like as a glasses-wearing chihuahua—that you’ll never unsee.

And that is exactly why the app is exploding in use, even recently overtaking Twitter in terms of daily users. A social network where people share photos and short videos for just 24 hours, Snapchat is the answer to the Internet’s problem of never forgetting. And with a rotating set of fun features and filters, it’s also the response to Facebook and Twitter’s stale experiences.

As with any social network, much of your Snapchat experience will depend on who you follow, but on this one you’re less likely to find carefully composed posts. Instead, Snapchat all about spontaneity and documenting things “in the now.” Or, as the company’s founder Evan Spiegel puts it, “instant expression.”

Navigating the App 

When opening Snapchat, forget the infinite scroll of the social networks you’re used to, because this app immediately springboards the camera to the screen. The philosophy behind this unconventional landing place is that chats all begin with the conversation, and in Snapchat, images do the talking.

That makes even more sense when you think of how the app treats its photos and videos ephemerally. Just as spoken words only hang in the air long enough for ears to hear them, these images last just long enough to be seen (or more accurately, for 24 hours) and then they disappear.

Navigating the app also works a little differently here. Instead of left- or right-hand anchored menus, Snapchat has users swipe to access other elements of the service. For instance, from the camera, swipe to the right and the chat screen will appear, swipe down and your account preferences will drop in, and swipe left to view other users’ snaps. (You can also swipe left one more time for the “Discover” screen, which displays stories by media entities like ESPN, CNN, and People, also a Time Inc. publication.) Sure, there are also buttons you can press to reach these screens (the bottom-left square for your chats, the top-center ghost for your account, and the bottom-right hamburger menu for your stories), but kids these days swipe their Snapchat like it’s Tinder—another app you’re probably too old to be using. 

How to Use Snapchat Step 7

Step 7

Viewing Snaps and Stories 

1. Tap the button in the lower-left corner to view your received Snaps. You'll see a number in this button indicating how many new Snaps you've received.
   • Triangles indicate photo Snaps, while squares indicate video.
   • Red Snaps do not have audio, and purple Snaps do.
   • Blue Snaps are text chats.
2. Press and hold the Snap you want to view. Make sure to keep holding your finger to view the entire Snap. The Snap will disappear as soon as the timer runs out or you release your finger. 
   • If you've received multiple Snaps from the same person, you'll be able to view them back-to-back while you continue to hold the screen. You can tap with a second finger to advance to the next Snap early.
   • You can take screenshots of Snaps, but the sender will be notified that you did. Most Snapchat users don't like it when people take screenshots, as it goes against the spirit of Snapchat. Check with the sender to see if screenshots are OK before screenshotting, or you may get blocked.
3. Press and hold a Snap again to use your daily Replay. Snapchat allows you to replay one Snap every 24 hours. After you've used your daily Replay, you can't do it again unless you purchase additional Replays from Snapchat.
4. Open the Stories page to see all of your friends' Stories. Tap the ☰ button in the lower-right corner to open the Stories page. This will have a number if your friends have updated their Stories since you last checked.
5. Tap a Story to view all of the Snaps in the last 24 hours. When you tap a Story, it will begin to play from the oldest Snap. Each Snap will play through its timer and then move on to the next one. You can tap the screen while the Story is playing to move on to the next Snap.
   • Swipe up on your screen to quickly close a Story.
6. Reply to a specific Snap in a Story. At any time during a Story (as long as you're friends with the person), you can send a reply to the Snap you are viewing. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the onscreen keyboard.
7. Tap "My Story" to view your own Story. This will only appear if you've added Snaps to your Story.
8. Tap the ^ button at the bottom of your Story to see details. You'll be able to see how many people have viewed each Snap, as well as how many have screenshotted it. You can tap the Trash button to delete that particular Snap from your Story, or tap the Download button to download it to your phone.

How to Use Snapchat Step 6

Step 6

Sending the Snap  

1. Tap the Download button to save the Snap to your phone (optional). If you want to keep the Snap you just created, tap the Download button at the bottom of the screen. When you send the Snap it's gone forever, so make sure you save Snaps you want to keep before sending.
2. Tap the "Send" button in the lower-right corner when you're happy with your Snap. Once you're satisfied with how your Snap looks, tap the Send button to open your Snapchat contacts list.
3. Tap each recipient that you want to send the Snap to. You can send the Snap to as many people on your list as you would like. The recipient will be able to view your Snap once before it disappears, unless they use their daily Replay on it (more on Replays later on).
4. Tap the "Send" button after selecting contacts. Your Snap will be sent immediately to everyone that you selected.
5. Tap "My Story" to add your Snap to your Story instead. Snaps that are added to your Story can be viewed by anyone that has access to your Story for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the Snap is permanently deleted. By default, anyone can view your Story as long as they know your Snapchat username.
   • Snaps in your Story can be replayed as many times as the viewer wants for up to 24 hours.

How to Use Snapchat Step 8

Step 8

Chatting with Snapchat 

1. Update your Snapchat app. The latest version of Snapchat includes the new Chat 2.0 features. In order to use them, both you and the recipient will need to be running the latest version of Snapchat.
   • You can check for app updates in the Google Play Store or the iOS App Store on your device.
2. Open the sent and received Snaps section of Snapchat. Tap the button in the lower-left corner or swipe from the left side of the screen to open your inbox.
3. Tap the "Chat" button in the upper-right corner. This will open a list of all of your Snapchat contacts.
4. Tap the user you want to chat with. This will open the chat screen.
5. Enter text using the keyboard. You can type messages like you would most chat programs using the onscreen keyboard.
6. Tap the "Photos" button to open your phone's gallery. You can send pictures that you have saved on your phone using this.
7. Tap the "Phone" button to place an audio call. The recipient will be notified that they are receiving a call and can answer.
8. Press and hold the "Phone" button to record an audio note. You can record up to ten seconds of audio that the recipient can listen to when they are in the chat.
9. Press and hold the "Video" button to record a video note. Like the audio note, you can record up to ten seconds of video that the recipient can view.
10. Tap the "Smiley" button to open the sticker list. Private chats have more sticker options available than regular Snaps. Scroll down through the list to view all of the available stickers.
11. Tap the "Circle" button to open the Snapchat screen. This will let you create a Snap and send it directly to that person

How to Use Snapchat Step 5

Step 5

Adding Emoji, Stickers, Text, Drawings, and Filters 

1. Tap the Sticker button to see stickers and emoji. You can place these anywhere on your picture.
2. Swipe left and right on the Sticker screen to see different categories. There are a variety of stickers to choose from.
3. Tap a sticker to add it to your Snap. You can drag it around the screen with your finger to place it where you'd like. You can place as many stickers as you'd like.
4. Use two fingers to adjust the size and rotation of sticker. Pinch the sticker in and out to adjust the size. Rotate your two fingers on the screen to rotate the sticker.
5. Tap the "T" button to add a caption. This will open a text field and your device's on-screen keyboard.
6. Tap the "T" again to increase the size of the text and change the color. Use the slider on the right side of the screen to select the text color you want to use. Holding your finger on the slider will display more color options.
7. Use two fingers to adjust the size and rotation of the text. Like stickers, you can use your fingers to move the text, rotate it, and change the size.
8. Tap the Pencil button to draw on your Snap. Drag your finger to draw freeform images on your Snap. The slider on the right will allow you to change the color of the line. You can tap the Undo button to erase the last drawing you made.
9. Swipe left and right to view the available filters. If you're doing this for the first time, you may be prompted to allow location access for Snapchat, as some filters such as Weather and City are based on your device's location.
   • You may need to enable additional filters in Snapchat's Settings menu. Tap the Ghost button at the top of the screen and then tap the Gear button. Select "Manage" in the Additional Services section. Check the "Filters" box and enable location services if prompted.

How to Use Snapchat Step 4

Step 4

Swapping Faces with Lenses 

1. Open the Lenses feature. Follow the steps in the previous section to open the list of available Lenses. 
2. Select the "Face Swap" Lens. Swipe through the menu until you find the Face Swap option. The icon has two smiley faces on a yellow background, with arrows pointing between them.
   • If you don't see Face Swap, it may have rotated out of the available selection. Check back in a few days to see if it's back.
3. Take off your glasses. Users report that the Face Swap effect works best if neither of you are wearing glasses.
4. Align your two faces with the dotted smiley outlines. These will turn yellow when a face is aligned with it. Once both faces are aligned, they'll be swapped!
5. Take a Snap. Like other Lenses, you can take a Snap by tapping or holding the circle at the bottom of the screen.
6. Save your Snap. If you want to be able to give the picture to your friend or family member that isn't using Snapchat, save it to your phone by tapping the Download button and then send it to them like you would any picture. 

How to Use Snapchat Step 3

Step 3

Using Lenses to Change Your Face

1. Switch to the Selfie camera. You can use the Lenses feature in Snapchat to scan your face and apply crazy effects. You can do this with either the front or the rear camera, but you'll find it easier if you're taking a selfie. Tap the Camera button in the upper-right corner to switch to your front-facing camera.
   • You can't apply the Lens effects to Snaps you've already taken. You'll need to activate Lenses before you take a Snap.
2. Make sure you're in a well-lit area. Snapchat will need to detect your face in the camera, so make sure you're in a well-lit room or outside so that your face is clearly defined on the screen.
3. Press and hold your face. After a few moments, you'll see a wireframe pattern appear over your face, and the effects options will appear at the bottom of the screen.
   • If you can't get Lenses to start, your device may not be compatible. Lenses requires Android 4.3+ on newer devices, or the latest version of iOS. Older iOS and Android devices may not work, even if they're running the latest software versions.
4. Swipe through the available options. The selections of effects rotates on a daily basis, with the oldest Lens in the list being replaced by a new one. If you don't see the effect you want, check back in the next few days.
5. Do what the screen says to activate the effect. Many Lenses can add additional effects if you open your mouth or raise your eyebrows. Check the text on the screen to see what to do for your selected effect.
6. Take or record a Snap with your chosen effect. While the effect is active, you can take and record Snaps just like you would normally. Tap the circle button (which displays the Lens choice) to take a photo Snap with the current effect, or press and hold to record a video.

How to Use Snapchat Step 2

Step 2

Creating a Snap  

1. Switch between the front and back camera. If your device has a front and a rear camera, you can switch between them by tapping the Camera button in the upper-right corner of the Snapchat screen.
2.  Tap the circle to take a photo Snap. Tap the circle shutter button at the bottom of the screen to take a still image Snap. The camera will capture whatever is currently displayed on the screen.
3. Press and hold the circle to record a video Snap. You can record up to 10 seconds of video in single Snap. Snapchat will only record if you keep the button held.
4. Tap the "X" in the upper-left corner to discard the Snap. If you don't like the picture or video Snap you took, tap the "X' to discard it.
5. Tap the Timer button to set a time limit on photo Snaps. Photo Snaps will have a Timer button that allows you to set a time limit between 1 and 10 seconds. When the recipient is viewing the Snap, it will close automatically after the timer runs out. You cannot set a timer longer than 10 seconds, regardless of what you may read online.
   • Video Snaps do not have timers. They will play through the length of the recording and then close.

How to Use Snapchat Step 1

Snapchat is a picture-based chatting app that has taken the world by storm. If you want to get in on the fun, getting started only takes a few minutes. Once you're signed up for an account, you'll be able to start sending photo and video Snaps immediately. You'll also be able to video chat with your Snapchat friends. Remember, Snaps are gone once they're viewed!

Step 1
Getting Started 

1. Download and install the app. You'll need the Snapchat app to create an account and use the service. You can't create a Snapchat account from a computer. You can download the Snapchat app for free from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Snapchat accounts are free.
2. Tap "Sign Up" after launching the app. This will take you through the account creation process.
3. Create a Snapchat account. You'll be prompted to enter your email address, birthday, and to create a password. Make sure the email address is valid, as you'll need it if you ever want to reset your password. You'll also need to be at least 13 years old to create your account.
    
   • You'll need to create a unique username that will be displayed to other Snapchat users. Do not include any personal information in your username. You won't be able to change this username later, so make sure you like the name. If you want to change your username later, you'll need to create a new account.
   • Snapchat will prompt you to verify your phone number via SMS. Verifying your number allows you to reset your password via text, but is not necessary to create an account.
   • Snapchat will require you to select the correct images before your account is created. This is to prevent bots from creating accounts automatically. Tap "Continue" after selecting the images with the Snapchat ghost on them.
4. Add friends from your phone's contact list (optional). Snapchat will scan your phone's address book to look for other people who are using Snapchat. You can skip this if you'd like by tapping "Continue" and then "Not Allow."
5. Start adding friends. You'll need people to chat with if you want to use Snapchat. Adding someone will let you send Snaps to the person, and view their Story if it is public, but the other person will need to add you back in order to reply to Story snaps or gain access to friends-only Stories.
   • Many users do not allow Snaps from users that they haven't added back. If you send a Snap to someone that hasn't added you back, you'll likely see "Pending" until your friend request is approved.
6. Add a friend using their Snapchat username. The quickest way to add someone to Snapchat is to enter their Snapchat username. Try to get the person's Snapchat username if possible. It is not possible to add someone by email, real name, or phone number unless that person is in your address book and has allowed being found through address book matching in the Snapchat settings.
   • Tap the Ghost button at the top of the Snapchat screen. This will open your profile and options.
   • Tap "Add Friends." This will open the Add Friends menu.
   • Tap "Add by Username." The username search will appear.
   • Enter the username of the person you want to add. Start typing in the username and results will appear underneath the search field.
   • Tap the "+" button next to the user. Depending on their settings, you may see their profile image. Tapping "+" will add that user to your friends list.
7.  Add people using their Snapcode. You can use Snapcodes to quickly add people to your friends list:
   • Take a photo or screenshot of someone's Snapcode. You can also point your Snapchat camera at someone's Snapcode.
   • Select "Add by Snapcode" from the "Add Friends" menu.
   • Select the image that contains the Snapcode you want to add. That person will be added to your friends list.