Parents of older teens, what age for Snapchat?

[Anonymous]

I’m in law enforcement. No Snapchat, ever. In addition to all the dangers already mentioned, kids use it to buy drugs that are shipped directly to their house, anywhere in the country. I guarantee you all of these kids were “good kids” and their parents never thought they would get into any trouble. Any parent who lets their kids use Snapchat has their head in the sand.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/01/snapchat-fentanyl-lawsuit/677296/

[Anonymous]

As an 8th grade teacher and a mom of teens, they all have it. If you don’t allow it, they sneak it. On friends phones, burner phones, or old devices on your home on WiFi. Even on web browsers.

I allow it but have their log ins and the app on my phone. They know I can log on and check anytime. Messages have to be set to 24hr and not delete immediately. I also have app limits for only for 1 hour a day. I add extra during sleepovers or traveling on long car rides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m in law enforcement. No Snapchat, ever. In addition to all the dangers already mentioned, kids use it to buy drugs that are shipped directly to their house, anywhere in the country. I guarantee you all of these kids were “good kids” and their parents never thought they would get into any trouble. Any parent who lets their kids use Snapchat has their head in the sand.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/01/snapchat-fentanyl-lawsuit/677296/

Newsflash - kids buy and take pills directly in school, even middle school. Snapchat does not prevent kids from doing drugs if they want. Snapchat also doesn’t force kids to try drugs if they don’t want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in law enforcement. No Snapchat, ever. In addition to all the dangers already mentioned, kids use it to buy drugs that are shipped directly to their house, anywhere in the country. I guarantee you all of these kids were “good kids” and their parents never thought they would get into any trouble. Any parent who lets their kids use Snapchat has their head in the sand.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/01/snapchat-fentanyl-lawsuit/677296/

Newsflash - kids buy and take pills directly in school, even middle school. Snapchat does not prevent kids from doing drugs if they want. Snapchat also doesn’t force kids to try drugs if they don’t want to.

You do you but I’d prefer to take simple steps to drastically reduce the likelihood of my kids hurting themselves and others. I’m sure the parents who lost their kids regret their decision to allow Snapchat everyday. Guessing you’re one of those parents who gives their kids alcohol and guns because they can get them elsewhere if they want and you’ll ask for “thought and prayers” if anything bad happens from it.

In case you haven’t noticed, the vast majority of parents on this thread who allow Snapchat only allow it begrudgingly. Maybe if more parents were educated about the risks and/or had a spine nine of us would have to worry about it.

[Anonymous]

My kids got it at around 7th or 8th grade. No issues. Snapchat truly has replaced texting and teens without it are going to have a hard time socially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m in law enforcement. No Snapchat, ever. In addition to all the dangers already mentioned, kids use it to buy drugs that are shipped directly to their house, anywhere in the country. I guarantee you all of these kids were “good kids” and their parents never thought they would get into any trouble. Any parent who lets their kids use Snapchat has their head in the sand.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/01/snapchat-fentanyl-lawsuit/677296/

How about let's teach our kids not to use nor buy drugs? Let's be real. If a kid wants to buy or sell drugs, they don't need Snapchat. There are other channels for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in law enforcement. No Snapchat, ever. In addition to all the dangers already mentioned, kids use it to buy drugs that are shipped directly to their house, anywhere in the country. I guarantee you all of these kids were “good kids” and their parents never thought they would get into any trouble. Any parent who lets their kids use Snapchat has their head in the sand.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/01/snapchat-fentanyl-lawsuit/677296/

Newsflash - kids buy and take pills directly in school, even middle school. Snapchat does not prevent kids from doing drugs if they want. Snapchat also doesn’t force kids to try drugs if they don’t want to.

+1. No one believes you are in law enforcement if you believe not letting your kid have Snapchat will prevent drugs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an 8th grade teacher and a mom of teens, they all have it. If you don’t allow it, they sneak it. On friends phones, burner phones, or old devices on your home on WiFi. Even on web browsers.

I allow it but have their log ins and the app on my phone. They know I can log on and check anytime. Messages have to be set to 24hr and not delete immediately. I also have app limits for only for 1 hour a day. I add extra during sleepovers or traveling on long car rides.

You want to be the cool teacher and mom. No all kids do not have Snapchat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in law enforcement. No Snapchat, ever. In addition to all the dangers already mentioned, kids use it to buy drugs that are shipped directly to their house, anywhere in the country. I guarantee you all of these kids were “good kids” and their parents never thought they would get into any trouble. Any parent who lets their kids use Snapchat has their head in the sand.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/01/snapchat-fentanyl-lawsuit/677296/

How about let's teach our kids not to use nor buy drugs? Let's be real. If a kid wants to buy or sell drugs, they don't need Snapchat. There are other channels for that.

How about both? Do you think the parents of kids who have died from overdoses never told their kids not to do drugs? Head in the sand. You just want to believe you are a superior parent and it would never happen to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in law enforcement. No Snapchat, ever. In addition to all the dangers already mentioned, kids use it to buy drugs that are shipped directly to their house, anywhere in the country. I guarantee you all of these kids were “good kids” and their parents never thought they would get into any trouble. Any parent who lets their kids use Snapchat has their head in the sand.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/01/snapchat-fentanyl-lawsuit/677296/

Newsflash - kids buy and take pills directly in school, even middle school. Snapchat does not prevent kids from doing drugs if they want. Snapchat also doesn’t force kids to try drugs if they don’t want to.

+1. No one believes you are in law enforcement if you believe not letting your kid have Snapchat will prevent drugs.

You are ignorant. https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2022-03/20220208-DEA_Social%20Media%20Drug%20Trafficking%20Threat%20Overview.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids got it at around 7th or 8th grade. No issues. Snapchat truly has replaced texting and teens without it are going to have a hard time socially.

Not for everyone. It is literally not the only chat app. There are other options, which apparently my kids and most of their friends prefer. Though some of their friends do use snap chat, it really isn't a problem for them to talk to their friends other ways.

My oldest is a young adult now who is way beyond lying to mom and dad (and frankly was never a good liar), never had it, never liked it, and basically says, what you use depends on what you are into and what that group of friends is into. He moved away from what he called "the middle snap chat crowd" very quickly, because they were up to no good in his opinion. He happens to have a strong, leader-type personality, so I get that not every kid would have the confidence to make that call and get his friends to follow instead of reject him for it - it's not easy. But my only point is that it simply isn't true that "everyone" is using it or that you can't communicate with your friends without it. Many do. All you have to do is choose a different app with your friends. If your kid can't do that, go into the teen years with eyes wide open because they will continue to follow the crowd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in law enforcement. No Snapchat, ever. In addition to all the dangers already mentioned, kids use it to buy drugs that are shipped directly to their house, anywhere in the country. I guarantee you all of these kids were “good kids” and their parents never thought they would get into any trouble. Any parent who lets their kids use Snapchat has their head in the sand.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/01/snapchat-fentanyl-lawsuit/677296/

How about let's teach our kids not to use nor buy drugs? Let's be real. If a kid wants to buy or sell drugs, they don't need Snapchat. There are other channels for that.

Let's be real: without the ease of Snapchat buys, many kids wouldn't have had the guts to buy the first time.

[Anonymous]

I’m also in LE
Currently we have a missing 13yo who has been previously assaulted while meeting their dealer over Snapchat to buy weed. No to Snapchat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids got it at around 7th or 8th grade. No issues. Snapchat truly has replaced texting and teens without it are going to have a hard time socially.

This is just not true.

[Anonymous]

Not all MS kids are using SnapChat. Our pile use texting, group chats, and FaceTime. Different crowds use different things.