Are Your Kids Using Snapchat? Read This!

Monitoring Matters

Do you monitor your children’s feeds and online presence? I do, every night for my younger children.

Snapchat stories disappear after 24 hours, and private messages vanish even faster. If you don’t check in, it’s easy to miss what your child is seeing. I watch stories with my {almost} 15-year-old and spend a minute talking about them.

Yes, it can feel annoying, like just one more thing on your already full plate. But I don’t brush it off because I care about my child’s emotional well-being, and social media can influence that more than we often realize.

Emotional Intelligence is Key

If you’re unfamiliar with emotional intelligence, take some time to read about it. It matters.

Much of what kids post is age-appropriate, but some of it can be cruel. Cuss words? I can get past that. Videos of kids bullying others? That’s a deal-breaker. If my gut tells me to contact the parents, I do. Too often, other parents don’t seem to care and that’s when we must step in to protect our own children.

Social media can be fun when used appropriately. My kids and I snap together sometimes, it’s actually enjoyable, but there’s a difference between healthy interaction and harmful habits.

The Danger of Anonymous Apps

A major concern is the use of third-party apps that allow anonymous messaging. Kids post a photo and invite friends to “Swipe up to tell me what you really think of me.”

These messages can range from compliments to cruel remarks. Sometimes, they can even be heartbreaking. I’ve seen messages like, “You make me suicidal,” shared on stories. Teenagers are already having a tough time figuring out who they are, and seeking validation this way can be dangerous.

Parents, this is serious. Help your children understand their worth comes from God, not from likes, comments, or anonymous messages online.

Building Confidence & Awareness

Here’s how to guide your children:

1. Remind them daily who they are
   They are loved, valued, and God’s children. Say it often. Make it part of their identity.

2. Start open conversations about their social media use
   Ask questions without leading them. Give them space to process:

   • “What did you think of that?”

   • “Is that how your friend acts in real life, too?”

   • “Why do you think they shared that?”

3. Pray with and for your children
   Encourage them to seek guidance and protection from God.  I like to encourage my kids to spend more time in their Bibles than they do on their phones, and I try to be a good example of that too.

4. Check privacy settings
   Make sure your child is not sharing their location publicly. Google Maps and social apps can inadvertently expose their home, school, or church.

Ongoing Conversations

This is not a one-time discussion, it’s an ongoing part of parenting in today’s digital world. Stay present, be patient, and guide your children with wisdom and love.

A Personal Note

I grew up with social media’s earliest forms, and I made mistakes that taught me painful lessons about boundaries and trust. If I could go back, I would have been safer and wiser.

As parents, we can’t control everything our children see online, but we can teach them to navigate it wisely, protect their hearts, and find their worth in Christ.

I’m updating this old post (published October 26th, 2017) to let you know it’s now 2025 and my older kids, 18 and 22, have voluntarily deleted Snapchat for the summer. They realized the way they were using it wasn’t really adding value to their lives. This made me reflect on my experiences with social media as a parent and I want to share some encouragement that my children are amazing and protecting them from the dangers of social media didn’t mess them up or make them feel like they were missing out.  They have THANKED me for helping them navigate the tough waters of the teen years.