How we decided on Snapchat

Our safety checks

Snapchat fails 4 of our 7 safety checks. We apply the same strict rules to every app and game.

1. Could we confirm every fact?

   ✗ No

   We couldn’t confirm 1 fact below, so it counts as a no. Rule 1

2. Is your child old enough for the official ratings?

   ! Only from 12

   Rated 12+ by Apple App Store and Google Play (UK). Rule 2

3. Can you stop strangers contacting your child?

   ✗ Not confirmed

   Teens can only message friends and saved contacts, and those protections can’t be turned off. But Snap doesn’t say parents can stop their child accepting friend requests from people they don’t know. Rule 3Source

4. Is every risk under control once settings are on?

   ✗ No

   Still high risk with every control on: disappearing messages. Rule 4

5. Is its child-safety record clear?

   ✗ No

   New Mexico’s Attorney General is suing Snap, saying Snapchat’s design fosters sextortion and the sexual exploitation of children. The case is still open. Rule 5Source

6. Can you stop all spending?

   ✓ Yes

   Purchases, such as the Snapchat+ subscription, go through Apple or Google, which let parents require approval for every purchase. Apple’s Ask to Buy is one example. Rule 6Source

7. Is everything checked before children see it?

   ! No

   Anyone can post Stories and short videos, and most are not checked by a person before children see them. So the best we can say is “only with conditions”. Rule 7