What Does a 13-Year-Old See on Snapchat in a Normal Week?
4 hours ago
- #social media harms
- #Snapchat risks
- #teen safety
- Two new studies reveal that 13-year-olds on Snapchat frequently encounter graphic violence, sexual content, and unwanted contact from adult strangers during normal use.
- Snapchat's algorithmic recommendations in features like Stories and Discover expose young users to harmful content without them seeking it out, including sextortion, self-harm material, and drug-related posts.
- Over one-third of surveyed adolescents ages 10-17 reported unwanted contact from users, with many recommendations coming from adult strangers despite Snapchat's safety claims.
- The platform's design, including disappearing messages, complicates parental monitoring and safety efforts, while internal documents show Snapchat has downplayed risks like sextortion.
- Kids often cope with unsafe experiences silently; only 39% tell a trusted adult, with many feeling 'used to' such encounters, highlighting the need for better platform accountability and design.