Snapchat has released new parental Content Controls that will prevent minors from being exposed to inappropriate content while using the app, as reported by TheVerge.
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SAN ANSELMO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 03: In this photo illustration, the Snapchat logo is displayed on a cell phone screen on February 03, 2022 in San Anselmo, California. Shares of Snapchat surged in after hours trading after the company reported a better-than-expected fourth quarter earnings.
How It Works
Parents and guardians can access new content filtering capabilities via Snapchat's Family Center supervision tool and block sensitive or suggestive content from appearing on their child's Snapchat Stories or Spotlight feed.
It can be enabled y selecting "Restrict Sensitive Content" within the Family Center settings.
The feature won't retract content the child can view elsewhere on the app outside of Snapchat's Stories and Spotlight sections, such as Search, Chat, and Snaps.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to check Snapchat's Content Guidelines to determine which ones fall under sensitive or suggestive content. This will also help creators to identify which type of content is prohibited for recommendation on Stories or Spotlight.
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New Features to Be Added
Snapchat is also planning to add more features to Family Center to allow parents and guardians to monitor the child's interactions with My AI, the platform's experimental chatbot. However, there is no release date yet for this.
Protecting Children on Social Media
Parents and guardians can take proactive steps to protect their children while using social media. They should ensure that their child's account is private, set up two-factor authentication, and monitor the child's activity.
They should also talk to their child about the importance of being safe online and establish rules for using Snapchat. Additionally, parents can use Snapchat's parental control features to set limits on their child's activity, such as limiting who can contact them and how long they can use the app.
Parents should also be aware of the potential risks associated with social media, such as cyberbullying and exposing children to inappropriate content.
They can use Snapchat's Safety Center feature to learn more about how they can protect their child from these threats. Additionally, parents should regularly check in with their children and have open conversations about any concerns or issues that may arise while using Snapchat.
Parents must stay up-to-date on new features released by Snapchat so that they know what changes are being made and how this could affect their child's safety online.
It is also important for parents to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity or changes in their child's behavior. If they notice anything unusual, such as a sudden change in the amount of time spent on Snapchat or increased secrecy about what they are doing online, then it could be a sign that something untoward may be happening.
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