Do you know the most important settings for Snapchat? You can find out here.
What is Snapchat?
With the messenger app Snapchat, you can create photos or videos (“snaps”) and edit them with filters, stickers, emojis or text. So-called lenses can be used to change the appearance of selfies and the surroundings. If the other person has also installed the app, a photo or video can be sent directly via the app. It is also possible to download the created snaps and send them with other messenger apps. You can chat, play games, and make phone calls or video calls with other users or in groups.
Chats are no longer visible after viewing or after 24 hours. You can save messages by tapping on them; they then have a grey background that is also visible to other chatters. Unopened snaps and chats are deleted from the Snapchat servers after 30 days.
Duration of snaps
After a photo snap has been taken, you can use the clock symbol to set how long your Snapchat friend can see your photo. You can either set a time span of 1 to 10 seconds or unlimited.
Snap videos can either be looped endlessly or strung together for up to 60 seconds by holding the record button.
Snaps that you add to your Story can be viewed by others an unlimited number of times for 24 hours.
TIP:
You can control who can see your Story in the settings. For your own protection, it is recommended that you do not share your personal content with everyone, but only with your Snapchat friends. If you don’t want to share your Stories with all your friends, you can also set who can’t see them (under Custom).
Snapchat settings
You can set how securely you want your personal data and content to be handled in the settings. You can find the Snapchat settings by tapping on your profile picture and then the gear icon.
Snap Map
The Snap Map feature allows your Snapchat friends to see where you are. However, sharing your location can be a risk to your safety! We therefore strongly recommend that you activate the ghost mode on Snap Map. This way, your location will not be shared with other people.
Protect yourself from unpleasant users
In Snapchat, you have several options to protect yourself from unpleasant users:
Settings:
- Contact me: Set “My friends”.
- Find me under suggestions: Remove check mark
Remove, block or report Snapchat friends:
Press and hold contact, go to “More” and then either “Remove Friend”, “Block” or “Report”.
Leave a group:
Press and hold group, go to “More” and then “Leave group”.
Report a Snap or Story to Snapchat
You can also report individual snaps or stories on Snapchat, e.g. if someone is harassing you, bullying you, pretending to be you (fake profile), posting sexual or violent content or using a picture of you and you don’t want them to.
To report, simply press and hold the snap or story until the report function appears.
You can find many more instructions on how to protect your content and data in the Saferinternet privacy guide:
Snapchat privacy guide by Saferinternet.
What can you do if your Snapchat account has been hacked?
- If you can still log in: Change your password as soon as possible!
- Request a new password: When logging in to Snapchat, go to “Forgot your password?” There you can request a link to reset your password. This link will be sent to the mobile number or email address you provided when you created your account.
- Contact Snapchat Support: Click “I think my account has been hacked” and then click “Yes” for “Need help with anything else?” An input field will then appear with which you can contact Snapchat.
Deleting the Snapchat account
Uninstalling the Snapchat app does not delete your account. If you want to delete your Snapchat account, you can only do this via an internet browser. To do this, go to https://accounts.snapchat.com and log in with your access data.
Sending nude photos via Snapchat?
The fact that sending nude photos or revealing photos definitely also involves risks has already become known to many. Limiting the display time of snaps does not eliminate the risks of sending naked pictures, because there are a few ways to see or save the pictures again:
- Replay: As long as you remain in the friends view, you can view the snap one more time: Press and hold friend and tap snap again! It is visible to the other person when the snap is repeated.
- Screenshots: The snaps are photographed with tools or apps and saved. Here too, the other person receives a notification that a screenshot has been taken.
- Photographing: A snap can be photographed unnoticed with a second camera.
Inform yourself!
If you want to send a nude photo of yourself, find out how you can do it without taking a big risk. We have summarized all the important information.
Here you can read about the best way to send nude photos safely! Also find out how you can avoid being prosecuted!
For further help and support — Speak with a licensed therapist today.