Snapchat - Snapchat, Inc

Short takes

Snapchat is a social media platform that consists of sending images with captions, and messages.

This review of Snapchat was kindly provided by a public reviewer on 2 October 2014.

About the app

This section contains details about the app provided by a Public Reviewer.

Public review

This review of Snapchat contains the following information:

• The level to which the game was reviewed
• App description
• Reviewers comments
• In App purchasing
• Online information
• Gambling
• Advertising and product placement
• Gender stereotypes and sexual references
• Coarse language
• Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents
• Other

The level to which the game was reviewed

No levels within this app. Reviewer has been using this app for about 10 months.

App description

This app allows users to send images and videos (Snaps) to other users. These "Snaps" can be shared to the general public, everyone on your friends lists or to selected friends. The user can control who sees the "Snaps" and for how long they are visible. Once a user leaves a conversation the "Snaps" are no longer visible.

Although the app doesn’t save the messages and images, the recipients can save the images to their devices. Snapchat does try and alert you that someone has taken a screenshot, but there isn’t much else that can be done if other users save the images.

Reviewers comments

An account is required to use Snapchat and in setting up this account you create privacy settings. The reviewer recommends to set privacy options to friends and to only give people you know personally your username. The privacy settings can be changed at any time.

Snapchat features three methods of messaging: chatting, snapping and My Story. Chatting is individual, though can be done with all of your friends. Snaps can be sent to multiple people at once and snaps shared to My Story are available for 24 hours to your friends' list, or selected people.

Overall, the reviewer's experience with this app has been a positive one, and it is used frequently by the reviewer to socialise with friends. There have been people however, who have had technical problems with the video, and importantly, bullying through screenshots.

Snapchat has published useful parent information available at https://www.snapchat.com/static_files/parents.pdf

Cybersmart also have information about Snapchat at http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Parents/About%20the%20technology/Snapchat.aspx

In App purchasing

N/A.

Online information

An email address is required to create the account, and a phone number can be added to help find friends. The reviewer wouldn’t recommend publishing a phone number in the find friends area, as those with this knowledge will be able to discover your snapchat name.

Gambling

N/A.

Advertising and product placement

N/A.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

If used in an inappropriate manner, snaps of a sexual or pornographic nature can be sent. It is wise to remember that using social media to send such images may be a criminal offence.

Coarse language

Coarse language can be sent with images.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

As with all social media, the key is to think before sending, and making sure that you are comfortable with sharing the image on the net. Also, only send images to people you trust, as it may have a screenshot taken of it.

T= is it true?

H = is it helpful?

I= is it inspiring?

N= is it necessary?

K= is it kind?

Other

Please refer to Cybersmart website for further information about social media apps.

Public Reviews

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