Parents of older teens, what age for Snapchat?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This has been our experience although our oldest aren’t adults yet. The Snapchat kids were the “fast” ones who are hung up on being cool, obsessed with Insta shots, etc. My kids just aren’t into that and stick with texting their friend groups. Never had an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I’m not pro social media at all. But couldn’t a teen delete text messages, Instagram DMs etc if they really want? All of it is bad but not sure Snapchat avoids all issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I’m not pro social media at all. But couldn’t a teen delete text messages, Instagram DMs etc if they really want? All of it is bad but not sure Snapchat avoids all issues.

Snapchat isn’t just about disappearing texts between friends. It’s a social network where there are lots of unsavory characters (drug dealers, pedos, etc) advertising and/or connecting with kids they would never be able to reach otherwise.

[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/

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.

Ok well then let's not send them to school and let's not let them go to parties or go to the mall because this stuff can literally happen at these places and more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good parents don't let their kids on social media, ever.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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/

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.

Ok well then let's not send them to school and let's not let them go to parties or go to the mall because this stuff can literally happen at these places and more.

Ok well then let’s just not make our kids wear seat belts and let them carry around loaded guns because we always trust them to make the right decision. See how that works.

Bottom line is that any advantage to using Snapchat (arguably being in the “in” crowd? Still haven’t seen any parents so why they think snap is good for their kids…) is far outweighed by the risks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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/

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.

Ok well then let's not send them to school and let's not let them go to parties or go to the mall because this stuff can literally happen at these places and more.

Ok well then let’s just not make our kids wear seat belts and let them carry around loaded guns because we always trust them to make the right decision. See how that works.

Bottom line is that any advantage to using Snapchat (arguably being in the “in” crowd? Still haven’t seen any parents so why they think snap is good for their kids…) is far outweighed by the risks.

DP
Kids should learn how to safely handle firearms to prevent accidents. Just look at how many accidental shootings police make because they aren't familiar with firearms, yet they are more familiar than the average teen.
Seat belts should be a personal choice. Their body, their rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good parents don't let their kids on social media, ever.

+1

This doesn’t make any sense. How long do you control them? Do you stop at 18? When they move out? Never? Are you somehow preventing your adult children from having social media?

[Anonymous]

We didn’t want it but allowed it at 13 because that is how they all communicate. It’s been fine, mostly photos of walls sent to friends. Kid has no insta or tick toc etc. We felt that since this is how they communicate at this point it’s fine.

The one time a kid in their friend group accidentally added someone with the same name as someone they were friends with, one of the other kids told a parent who in turn alerted that kids parents. The kid had already told their parents and looked up how to block the person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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/

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.

Ok well then let's not send them to school and let's not let them go to parties or go to the mall because this stuff can literally happen at these places and more.

Ok well then let’s just not make our kids wear seat belts and let them carry around loaded guns because we always trust them to make the right decision. See how that works.

Bottom line is that any advantage to using Snapchat (arguably being in the “in” crowd? Still haven’t seen any parents so why they think snap is good for their kids…) is far outweighed by the risks.

DP
Kids should learn how to safely handle firearms to prevent accidents. Just look at how many accidental shootings police make because they aren't familiar with firearms, yet they are more familiar than the average teen.
Seat belts should be a personal choice. Their body, their rules.

lol you don’t think kids should be required to wear seatbelts and you think that police get in “accidental shootings” because they don’t know to handle firearms? Sounds like Darwin is going to take care of you. Yep, these are the morons who let their kids have Snapchat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good parents don't let their kids on social media, ever.

+1

This doesn’t make any sense. How long do you control them? Do you stop at 18? When they move out? Never? Are you somehow preventing your adult children from having social media?

As long as they’re in your home using things you pay for? As long as you think it’s keeping them safe? Do you understand there’s a difference between a 13 year old and an adult? Do you let your kid drink at 13 because hOw LoNg CaN i CoNtRoL tHeM???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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/

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.

Ok well then let's not send them to school and let's not let them go to parties or go to the mall because this stuff can literally happen at these places and more.

Ok well then let’s just not make our kids wear seat belts and let them carry around loaded guns because we always trust them to make the right decision. See how that works.

Bottom line is that any advantage to using Snapchat (arguably being in the “in” crowd? Still haven’t seen any parents so why they think snap is good for their kids…) is far outweighed by the risks.

DP
Kids should learn how to safely handle firearms to prevent accidents. Just look at how many accidental shootings police make because they aren't familiar with firearms, yet they are more familiar than the average teen.
Seat belts should be a personal choice. Their body, their rules.

lol you don’t think kids should be required to wear seatbelts and you think that police get in “accidental shootings” because they don’t know to handle firearms? Sounds like Darwin is going to take care of you. Yep, these are the morons who let their kids have Snapchat.

Facts are facts. It's up to you to learn them. Don't just take my word for it, learn some yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good parents don't let their kids on social media, ever.

+1

This doesn’t make any sense. How long do you control them? Do you stop at 18? When they move out? Never? Are you somehow preventing your adult children from having social media?

Many parents on here refuse to let their kids mature and grow up, even trying to boss their adult children around. It's weird really how controlling most parents on this site are.

Would be a neat social experiment and info to learn of their ages, backgrounds, income, etc. and categorize it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good parents don't let their kids on social media, ever.

+1

This doesn’t make any sense. How long do you control them? Do you stop at 18? When they move out? Never? Are you somehow preventing your adult children from having social media?

As long as they’re in your home using things you pay for? As long as you think it’s keeping them safe? Do you understand there’s a difference between a 13 year old and an adult? Do you let your kid drink at 13 because hOw LoNg CaN i CoNtRoL tHeM???

I don’t have a 13 year old. Mine are in HS. Some posters are clutching pearls and saying NEVER!!! I have no concerns with mine using social media and yes, one will be 18 in a couple of months and moving out in the near future. I’m not going to be that parent with parental controls when he’s in college.

[Anonymous]

When my DD got Snapchat and we agreed that I would add her for the location tracking privileges. And that I would go through her chats once a month