The Dangers of Snapchat
Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t want plastered on a billboard with your face on it. – Erin Bury (the Managing Director at Eighty-Eight, a Toronto-based creative communications agency)
May 2, 2018
Snapchat is an application for teenagers that allows people to follow and send photos to each other and document their life at anytime. This app became very popular in 2012 when it made a big breakthrough.
Snapchat was developed by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, two Stanford University students that were convinced that emojis were not enough to transmit emotion that a person was trying to produce in a single text message. Its use was made for everyone, but slowly it leaned more towards teens because adults aren’t on their phone as much as millennials.
The only issues with Snapchat is that it’s very dangerous. On this app they have a feature where anyone that is on your account can see your exact location using the map built in it. This allows cyberstalking from random people.
Even people can get around the screenshotting issue by using another phone, and then blasting your information all over the place. This leads to bullying, harassment, discrimination, and criticizing one another which could lead to more suicide being people could post nudes, personal information, and more.
This location setting on Snapchat shows precisely where people are almost exactly which could lead to predators stalking. The best move would be to turn into Ghost mode which does not show your location and turn the account to private.
For teens and children who are under aged should have their parents check their settings to insure that they are right, and no one can find them that way, and that they are not adding random people they don’t know.
Many people believe that Snapchat shouldn’t have this ability because many could get kidnapped, robbed, or even killed if they are a person of interest to anyone. Truly this app is very dangerous if not used properly.
Honestly, children who are under the age of 15 shouldn’t have this app unless they know the guidelines and how dangerous it really is. Even then they shouldn’t have this because most are not mature or aware of what could really happen.
As much as this app may be dangerous there are good attributes that benefits many. It helps keep in touch with people that may have moved away, or even to receive information via picture.
A great feature that this has is it also tracks how long you’ve been talking to someone as long as you talk everyday. It’s a fun app with new filters everyday that many enjoy.
Social media and the Internet in general is dangerous. Just remember everything you post never really goes away, so be careful what you post especially since people could use it against you in the long run.
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secret • Dec 3, 2018 at 1:57 PM
snapchat itself is not dangerous however, the way that young people use it make it seem like a terrible app, and others shouldn’t be on it. If you are underaged, and immature… don’t get it. Snap is used to connecting with your friends and also sending pictures to them. As someone previously said, if you think that snapchat is only used for sending nudes and exposing others then you’re setting yourself up for failure. Get snapchat if you want. It’s not a bad app if you’re mature and you understand how the world works. If you’re 11 and youre on snap, get off it and stop giving it a bad rep. <3
Billy Jean • Nov 4, 2018 at 3:19 PM
Snapchat is very dangerous
Natalie Waugh-Magana • Oct 29, 2018 at 11:11 AM
If sharing nudes and posting your own very personal business is what you think snap is used for, your setting yourself up for failure. It’s supposed to be used to keep in contact and to have fun with friends, not to track and expose people. It is a very dangerous app when given to immature children, be aware who you have added and be mindful that everyone is not your friend and they may not have your best interests in mind. Otherwise those few warnings, the app is dope!
Gavin Sheets • Oct 11, 2018 at 1:47 PM
It is a problem that someone’s “exact location” can be seen on their Snapchat account because people can get kidnapped, or, even worse, killed by a stranger. In order to stay safe, parents must check their child’s settings on their account to see if they are set up properly, or you can go into ghost mode so no one knows where they are. Using Snapchat is really dangerous, so make sure to be careful who you talk to on Snapchat.
Cassidy Persieck • Oct 11, 2018 at 1:43 PM
I agree that Snapchat can be dangerous if you are not aware that some people “can see your exact location.” People should check their settings before using the app. Honestly, social media in general can be dangerous if you do not use it properly which is why people need to be informed and insure that their settings are how they want it to be.
Leslie Gutierrez • Oct 11, 2018 at 1:42 PM
Snapchat is a great app for teenagers but it does have its dangers, allowing “cyber stalking from random people.” If you add people that you may not know, people could track your location and anything could go bad. Also, it’s dangerous because of the bullying. Someone could make a fake account and just start messaging people, telling them rude comments. This could lead to the person doing dangerous things to themselves.
Michelle Lopez-Flores • Oct 10, 2018 at 2:03 PM
Snapchat is a well-known app, but I agree that the location setting is a very controversial and that “it’s very dangerous” because as long as you have it on, everyone that has you on the app can see exactly where you’re at. It can also give predators an upper hand because it gives them your exact location which only makes it more dangerous for you.
skylar ceccoli - eiffert • Oct 10, 2018 at 1:51 PM
Snapchat is dangerous .I agree with situation that “this allows cyberstalking from random people” because of the map. I use Snapchat myself and do not use my location because I’m a very private person and I don’t like others knowing what I’m doing and where I’m at.
Dominic Juranty • May 11, 2018 at 8:18 AM
Snapchat is a pretty creepy and hilarious app. Whenever I open the app the first thing that I notice is my face on the front-facing camera, usually in an awkward but comical position. That being said, it is creepy when I think about how easy it would be to have someone just watching me if they hack my Snap. My information might be compromised but hey, some Snapchat stories are worth it.
Sabrina Jaynes • May 4, 2018 at 1:51 PM
I believe the app itself is not dangerous at all, under the original guidelines. An issue stated in the article is how children have gained a hold of the app, which can lead to adult content or dangerous situations for them, but the app was not intended for children. The app can not be blamed for children going on their own and downloading the app. This is a much wider issue that must be dealt with separately. Another issue is claimed to be the dangerous privacy aspects of the app for the current generation, but for any person willing to download an app labeled as “social” then they are willing to give up this information. It should be common sense that anything posted online, or posted onto an area labeled private but still connects to the internet, has the risk of being exposed. By logging on to the internet, one is automatically agreeing to the possible privacy leak, whether by the company or by a hacker. It is just apart of the internet. If one really wants to have a private life, then they should follow Ron Swanson’s life.
Emma Deroque • May 2, 2018 at 1:52 PM
This is a subject that people definitely need to be more aware of. I’ve dealt with problems due to Snapchat and screenshotting before, and am currently trying to help a friend going through a similar issue. Your article was very well written and I hope more than just other journalism students read it and take your advice.
Destany Ivy • May 2, 2018 at 1:48 PM
I agree on the fact that snapchat can be dangerous, and lead to things one might not expect. However, teens, kids, and adults on the app should check their settings, and not allow just anyone to see their posts and location. They should know their right and wrong when sending or posting on snap. So if something happens, the blame should be completely on the person not the app. But I think this article was well written and let ones that may not know of the dangers.
Jazmyne Turner • May 2, 2018 at 8:35 AM
Snapchat is a very popular app now but soon or later will get boring. Like you stated how people can post nudes and find out where you live . That’s all you do on snap chat post pictures and text we can do that on other app to. I do have a snap chat but I’m barely ever on it and my location is on ghost mode but its a stupid app to me.
Jazmine Cook • May 2, 2018 at 8:34 AM
Snapchat is my favorite app but it is very dangerous. If you don’t use it properly anything can happen. I’ve heard of people who have had their pictures leaked because they think if they send them through Snapchat that people won’t send them out. People need to be aware of the dangers of social media and use it in a safe way. The article is very well written and has a lot of useful and helpful information.