Parents of older teens, what age for Snapchat?

[Anonymous]

It’s true that a lot of kids basically make plans on Snapchat. I’ve caved on this. But no to TikTok.

[Anonymous]

18.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And TiK Tok? I also have a young teen begging for these saying they feel socially left out … which I think is true but also their way of trying to build their case for why we should say yes. We’ve held firm at no but are curious like the OP how others are handling this.

I responded that these responses are not typical IRL. Also, my youngest is 14. I can’t think of anyone she knows who hasn’t had TikTok for years. Say no if you want but yes, your kid is socially left out. The strictest parents I know allow it with limits and have for years.

Also if they can access You Tube on any device (like school device) all the Tik Tok content shows up on You Tube.

True, but your kid still doesn’t have an account on TikTok and get sucked into their algorithm

[Anonymous]

I don't love snapchat but it is unfortunately how young teens communicate. I allowed it around 13but try to keep time limits on it, but it's difficult when their teams or project groups are using it for group chats. I allow TikTok and instagram but with pretty strict time limits - limits the mindless scrolling!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of its many bad features is you can see everyone’s location all the time. So if other kids are hanging out without you, you see their little avatars clustered together. I assume there’s a way to turn this off but the kids did not seem aware of how dumb and risky it is.

Yes it can be turned off…most kids we know have this off.

[Anonymous]

Two boys…both got around 13/14 because every sports team they’ve been on has a Snapchat group and if you’re not in the group, you’re out of the loop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a no here too. If enough parents had a spine all of our jobs would be easier.

This

So much this. Just because it's common for young teens to use Snapchat doesn't make it okay.

[Anonymous]

What’s wrong with plain old texting? Grow a spine and parent.

[Anonymous]

Don't do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These posters who are saying 18, your kids are driving at 16 but you won’t let them have Snapchat? Have you ever been on it? It’s basically just a way to text each other. Instead of banning things, teach them to set controls. You don’t want them getting these things when they first go to college. We all knew the kids who went wild. Our kids all have friends with strict parents who have secret accounts in HS. Don’t be that parent.

This sounds like a teen. One didn’t have Snapchat until in college and two deleted it within a month. It’s boring.

[Anonymous]

Age 13 DC. They are communicating in group chats in regular text for now. No snapchat.

[Anonymous]

My now 17 and 19yos both got it second semester of 8th grade.

All the negative things are true. It is also true it's how they communicate and make plans and be silly and share "secrets" that are actually not secrets at all (be sure to warn them!).

I would recommend location sharing be completely off as they get started. And it's best if they never want to use it, but many do. Have conversations about negative aspects of location sharing. It particularly bothers me in romantic relationships.

[Anonymous]

My 13 year old just got a phone (rising 8th grader). Some of her friends use snap chat - some don’t. There’s enough that don’t that the primarily group communication is still text. Maybe we’ll allow snap chat before 9th. Tik-tock is a never. Not sure about instagram - maybe over the next year.

[Anonymous]

No Snapchat. Also, I don’t understand why parents allow their minor daughters to post bikini pics on Vsco and instagram.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't do it.

you know you can limit how much time they get on each app, right?
i will never understand parents handing over phones with no limits/restrictions.