Do kids only talk on Snapchat?

[Anonymous]

My tween has a phone for texting but we don’t let him use apps like Snap. He says his friends are leaving him out of things, and I don’t know if it’s because he doesn’t use Snapchat, or if it’s just middle school social changes. So are kids just using Snap instead of texting?

[Anonymous]

What a HS intern at my volunteer job explained to me was that the DMs are faster on Snapchat than on text or even Instagram.

[Anonymous]

Yes, kids use snapchat to communicate, more than texting.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the kids and their peer group. I’ve had the same “no Snapchat” rule for my middle schoolers. One has text convos with friends both individually and in groups. Makes plans via texts. I know some of their parents don’t allow snap.

The other does not get texts from anyone. He’ll text someone and never get a response. He says his friends only communicate via snap and he’s excluded because he doesn’t have it. I’m not sure if he’d be included if he did have snap, but I’m about to give in and let him have it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, kids use snapchat to communicate, more than texting.

+1. Snapchat texting started for my DD in 8th grade and now in high school it’s where 99% of the communication happens.

[Anonymous]

I have a HS freshman and I HATE snap. But I let my son use it for the reasons mentioned above. I hate that I can't see whats going on if needed and that its very easy for random people to find and friend/snap you. Thats really the worst part of it IMO. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

SnapChat is toxic.

[Anonymous]

According to my teens, snap is more common, and less of a big deal. Like you would give your snap or snap friends, acquaintances, etc. Texting is deemed more “intimate” & more of like a next level thing - close friends or SOs.

I know, doesn’t make much sense to me, but they seem to differentiate between the levels of communication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SnapChat is toxic.

Agree. But thats how kids communicate so its a double edged sword.

[Anonymous]

Your tween is lying to you. It is not universally true that kids talk ONLY on Snapchat. Many teens use text messages.

[Anonymous]

My teens (boy and girl) use a combination of SnapChat, Insta, and Discord. They very rarely send regular texts to friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your tween is lying to you. It is not universally true that kids talk ONLY on Snapchat. Many teens use text messages.

NP.

I think OP’s kid is largely telling the truth. By and large, my kids communicate with friends using Snapchat.

Sometimes they text but it’s not common.

[Anonymous]

Snap and Discord. Asking a person for their Snap is like asking for their phone number/hitting on them. The other thing my teen’s friends do is randomly add people on snap from that “friend suggestions” list and talk to them/send photos/etc.

[Anonymous]

8th grade DD does not have Snap. She has other avenues for communication, and does just fine, socially. She is never left out due to lack of Snap (most often, she is invited but turns them down).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your tween is lying to you. It is not universally true that kids talk ONLY on Snapchat. Many teens use text messages.

Just because every teen doesn't only use Snap chat doesn't mean it's not the primary/exclusive mode for one friend group.