Anonymous wrote: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 wrote:I don’t give a flying F if my child is left out of asinine conversations on those platforms. If she’s not worthy of being texted over regular text, or WhatsApp, then she can go tell those kids to F off. I really really really wish more parents would grow some balls and just say NO to their kids on having these toxic Platforms. You are causing your child’s downward spiral mentally by allowing them to use them. How on earth are you rationalizing giving them a communication tool that then disappears so you are not able to check what’s being discussed, passed around, shared with your child? Honestly, think about it. The people who have created these platforms are evil and they don’t allow their own children to use them. Why are you allowing yours? Again, grow some balls, and say no to your child. If they’re upset, too bad. Say if texting is not good enough for them, then they can get used to having no phone and no communication with anyone. Stop blaming the generation, this is the way it is now, blah blah… you’re just giving in and making yourself feel better about doing the wrong thing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

This is what mine tell me too. Snap is casual and they have all sorts of classmates on there. Messages move to text (iMessage) once you are closer friends or romantically once you are more exclusive with each other and it’s maybe gonna last awhile? Having someone’s phone number apparently gives you some sort of status friendship wise - so silly lol.

You can add an acquaintance just searching their name on snap without much overthinking, but asking for their phone number would be weird to these kids. I guess bc you have to ask for it and that’s scary? Who knows!! Some of my 16 yo olds friends have been banned from Snapchat (I guess for inappropriate things - they track phones so the only way around this is to use another device) so those kids message on instagram….

Personally I don’t think this is the hill to die on - I’d let them have it and you can get on the phone occasionally and make sure location is off and they only have friends and local kids on there.

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

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

Anonymous wrote: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 wrote: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 wrote:

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.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Apple’s iMessage plays a significant role in the lives of young smartphone users and their parents, according to data and interviews with a dozen of these people. Teens and college students said they dread the ostracism that comes with a green text. The social pressure is palpable, with some reporting being ostracized or singled out after switching away from iPhones.