"Photo-sharing apps have
become the most popular way of communicating between teenagers. This photo-messaging
app allows teens to send pictures with a 1-10 second time limit before the
picture self-destructs and disappears never to be seen again. The concept of SnapChat is to send quick
pictures of yourself, others, or funny things to a friend, or a really cool
place you are at the moment like on a vacation to Hawaii, whatever. After the picture is viewed, the temporary
moment of immaturity or complete randomness is gone forever. So, users can send time limited photos that
might be embarrassing or just silly, or even sexy pics without a significant
fear that it will find its way into the hands of mom and dad. Yup. Think about it like this: No
trace of pictures for mom and dad or anyone to see. The person gets the photo, a little
1-10-second look, and then it's like it never happened.
Another negative of having
this app is bullying. Since the app allows pics to be shared within
groups, teens can share derogatory pics with each other throughout the
day. You could just be walking down the
hall and quickly snap a pic of someone without them knowing, then with SnapChat’s
new drawing features, draw derogatory comments next to the picture to send to a
user. SnapChat could intensify cyber
bullying because more teens would be willing to engage because the picture will
self destruct. Someone can send a
picture with some mean words to your child for just 3 seconds, just long
enough, to belittle them and make them feel worthless, and there would be no
proof of this action. What about cheating? There are a growing number of teens using
Snapchat for cheating on tests. Students
quickly take pictures of their test answers and SnapChat it to other students
in the class. Some youth are asking for their friends to
take a snap of their finished homework answers and to send it back to
them.
I am not saying that everyone
is using it in a bad way. Sure, it’s all
about the faces. Teens love to make faces – silly faces, happy faces,
ugly
faces – and SnapChat them to each other. It is a way to increase their
self-expression. But what about the time they are spending doing it
back and forth? Are
our teens misusing their time through disguised distractions? We have
been counseled that computers should be placed in an open, common area
and not
in our children’s bedrooms. How many
kids nowadays have internet on their phone and are staying up way late into the
night checking Facebook or SnapChatting their friends just lying in bed with
free reign? Do you really know? What about homework, family time, and just
plain getting to bed on time for good health and a clear mind?
The Bottom Line: SnapChat probably can
be a fun and engaging app when used appropriately. But it should be used carefully and with very
specific ground rules or not used at all.
Apps like SnapChat remind parents that we need to be vigilant about our
children's phone use and to monitor their activity to prevent problems like sexting or bullying or other elements
of the "dark side" of phone use by our children. Another parent
told me that some teens are sending “DP’s” (dirty pics) ie: nude snaps of themselves and using the SnapChat
drawing device to color over or “cover” the obvious body parts exposed. When I found
out about the “DP’s”...Yes, at our good ole’ Morgan High School…that kids are
talking about and sending to each other, I felt this need to make my voice
heard and also to discuss this with my own children. I found
out that you can check their usage by clicking on their user name and see how
many pics are being sent and who their top 3 people are. You might be amazed. Parents need to set up ground rules regarding
the usage of the app. No inappropriate
pictures or language describing pictures or cyber bullying.
From my standpoint, it is sometimes
helpful to see this not as just a social issue, but as a drug, because the
addictive mechanism is clearly part of the danger when teenagers habitually are
using the social network.
We should expect more from
our children. We should expect them to
make good decisions for themselves, regardless of how easy technology makes it
for them to do otherwise. My hope is
that you will take this knowledge and use it to leverage your vigilance at
home. Keep an eye out for this app on
your child’s iPhone, iPod or iPad. If you see that they’ve downloaded it,
chances are it’s time to sit down and have a serious conversation about the
consequences of what might happen and importance of time management and
priorities....you know “What Matters Most”.
We should monitor what our
children are watching and doing, but perhaps even more importantly, strive to
keep the lines of communication open so that our children will talk to us when
they are exposed to inappropriate material. This sometimes requires a delicate
balance between giving our children enough information to be aware of potential
problems and not giving them so much information that they are curious or
unduly alarmed.
So…
Mom and Dad, it’s time to check out your kiddos phone and get
rid of the SnapChat app or at least have the courage to monitor the usage and
what is being sent!!
Thank you so much for your time. If I at least helped one person
today, then I have made a difference!!! I love my
kids and I know you love yours as well.
“What the world really needs is courageous parenting from
mothers and fathers who are not afraid to speak up and take a stand.”
Larry R. Lawrence
From: A Concerned Parent in Morgan, Utah
