The question “How to set up Snapchat parental controls” might not be the first thing on your mind when your kid asks to download the app, but trust me, it should be.
Snapchat is fun, fast, and full of disappearing messages – which can make it a little tricky for parents to keep an eye on things. The good news? Snapchat has built-in parental controls that help you manage what your child sees, who they interact with, and how much time they spend on the app.
If you want to make sure they’re using it safely without killing the fun, here’s what you need to know.
The Risks of Snapchat for Kids and Teens
The youth population strongly favors the Snapchat social media application yet, it also presents various dangers to users.
The application feature that makes messages vanish alongside stories gives parents limited ability to monitor their children’s conversations while Snap Maps reveals their current position more easily. Under current circumstances Snapchat requires parental controls to protect children from cyberbullying and inappropriate content along with online predators.
Parents who want to keep their children safe on Snapchat can benefit from both built-in privacy options as well as supplemental security measures.
How to Set Up Built-in Parental Controls on Snapchat
Snapchat offers a built-in feature called Family Center, designed to help parents monitor their child’s activity while respecting their privacy.
It allows parents to see their child’s friend list, report concerns, and check who they’ve been chatting with in the last seven days – without reading the actual messages.
Family Center Features
- View your child’s Snapchat friend list
- See who they’ve been chatting with (without reading messages)
- Report suspicious or inappropriate accounts
- Manage privacy settings and screen time
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Set Up Family Center
If you’re wondering how to set up parental controls on Snapchat, follow these steps to enable Family Center:
- Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon in the top left corner.
- Tap the Settings icon in the top right.
- Scroll down to Privacy Controls and select Family Center.
- Tap Continue and follow the prompts to connect your child’s account.
- Send your child an invitation to join Family Center. They must accept the request.
- Once connected, you can monitor their friend list and recent interactions.
Using Family Center is a great way to establish parental controls on Snapchat, but if you need more advanced monitoring, third-party solutions like Parentaler can offer additional security.
Read Also: Twitter Parental Controls – Protecting Your Child’s Online Presence
Parentaler: An Alternative Way to Monitor Snapchat
Parentaler is a third-party monitoring tool that provides more detailed insights into your child’s Snapchat activity.
Unlike Family Center, which only gives basic information, Parentaler allows parents to track messages, GPS location, and app usage in real time.
Key Features of Parentaler
- Snapchat Monitoring: View sent and received messages, including deleted ones.
- GPS Tracking: Know your child’s real-time location anytime.
- Geofencing: Set safe zones and get alerts if your child enters or leaves them.
How to Put Parentaler Parental Control on Snapchat
If you’re looking for how to put parental controls on Snapchat using Parentaler, follow these steps:
- Visit Parentaler’s website and create an account.
- Choose a subscription plan that fits your needs.
- Install the Parentaler app on your child’s device.
- Grant necessary permissions for Snapchat monitoring.
- Log in to your Parentaler dashboard to start tracking their activity.
Both Family Center and Parentaler offer ways to set up Snapchat parental controls, but if you want detailed insights and location tracking, Parentaler is the better option.
No matter which method you choose, keeping an open conversation with your child about online safety is just as important as setting up these tools.
Family Center & Parentaler – Which One to Choose?
If you’re wondering, “does Snapchat have parental controls?”, the answer is yes – but they’re limited.
Snapchat’s Family Center provides basic monitoring by letting parents see their child’s friends and recent conversations, but it doesn’t allow message monitoring, screen time control, or location tracking.
On the other hand, Parentaler offers comprehensive parental controls for Snapchat, including real-time message tracking, GPS location monitoring, screen time management, and web filtering. Unlike Family Center, which can be disabled by the child, Parentaler runs discreetly, making it a more secure and effective option for concerned parents.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison:
| Feature | Snapchat Family Center | Parentaler |
|---|---|---|
| Friend List Monitoring | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Message Monitoring | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Screen Time Control | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Location Tracking | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Web Filtering | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Cost | Free | Varies (subscription-based) |
If you’re asking, “can you put parental controls on Snapchat?”, Family Center is a good starting point, but Parentaler offers complete control over your child’s Snapchat activity.
Read Also: Roku Parental Controls: How to Keep Your Kid’s Streaming Safe
Other Ways to Protect Your Child on Snapchat
Even with Snapchat parental controls iPhone or Android settings, extra safety measures can help keep your child secure online.
1. Set Screen Time Limits on Snapchat (iOS/Android)
If you’re wondering “how to get Snapchat with parental controls”, one way is by setting screen time limits using built-in tools:
- iOS (Screen Time):
- Open Settings > Screen Time.
- Tap App Limits > Add Limit.
- Select Snapchat, set a daily limit, and tap Add.
- Android (Digital Wellbeing):
- Open Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
- Tap Dashboard, select Snapchat, and set a usage limit.
2. Educate Your Child About Online Safety
Monitoring tools are useful, but talking to your child about cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and privacy risks is just as important. Teach them how to:
- Avoid talking to strangers online.
- Disable Snap Maps to keep their location private.
- Report harmful content or users.
3. Encourage Open Communication
If your child feels comfortable talking to you, they’re more likely to share negative experiences on Snapchat. Let them know they can always come to you if they feel unsafe.
4. Enable Snapchat’s Privacy Settings
In addition to parental controls for Snapchat, adjust their privacy settings:
- Go to Settings > Privacy Controls and limit who can contact them.
- Turn off Quick Add to prevent strangers from adding them.
So, are there parental controls on Snapchat? Yes, but for complete security, combining built-in features with third-party tools like Parentaler is the best approach.
FAQ
Snapchat can be safe for kids, but only with proper Snapchat parental controls and guidance.
The app’s disappearing messages, public Stories, and Snap Maps can expose children to risks like cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and unwanted contact from strangers.
To make Snapchat safer, parents should:
– Use built-in parental controls on Snapchat like Family Center.
– Adjust privacy settings to restrict who can contact their child.
– Educate their child about online dangers and encourage open communication.
– Consider using third-party monitoring tools like Parentaler for additional security.
Snapchat itself isn’t inherently dangerous, but how it’s used determines the level of safety.
The built-in parental controls on Snapchat (Family Center) provide basic monitoring, allowing parents to:
– See their child’s friend list.
– View who they’ve chatted with in the last seven days (without seeing messages).
– Report suspicious accounts.
However, Family Center has limitations:
– It does not allow message monitoring.
– It does not offer screen time management.
– It does not provide location tracking.
If parents only need light supervision, Snapchat’s built-in parental controls might be enough. But for full monitoring, third-party tools like Parentaler are a better choice.
The best parental control for Snapchat depends on the level of monitoring needed:
– Snapchat’s Family Center – Free and provides basic friend-list monitoring but lacks advanced tracking.
– Parentaler – A comprehensive parental control tool that includes message monitoring, location tracking, screen time control, and web filtering.
For parents looking for complete control and security, Parentaler is the best option because it provides:
– Full message tracking (including deleted messages)
– Live GPS tracking to know your child’s real-time location
– Geofencing alerts when your child enters or leaves specific areas
– Screen time limits to manage app usage
– Web filtering to block inappropriate content
If you’re asking, “does Snapchat have parental controls?”, the answer is yes – but for full monitoring, Parentaler is the better choice.
Parentaler provides advanced monitoring for parents who want full insight into their child’s Snapchat activity.
With Parentaler, parents can:
– See all sent and received messages – even deleted ones.
– Monitor their child’s friends list and new friend requests.
– Track their child’s location in real time using GPS.
– Set up geofencing alerts to know when their child enters or leaves specific locations.
– Control screen time usage to prevent overuse of the app.
– Filter web content to block inappropriate websites.
If you’re wondering, “can you put parental controls on Snapchat?”, Parentaler offers the most complete monitoring solution to help parents ensure their child’s online safety.
Read Also: How to Set Up Parental Controls on Android
Conclusion
So, are there parental controls on Snapchat?
Yes, but Snapchat’s Family Center alone may not be enough for full monitoring.
While it provides basic friend-list supervision, it doesn’t allow message tracking, screen time control, or location tracking.
For parents who want more control, Parentaler is the best alternative. It provides detailed Snapchat monitoring, GPS tracking, geofencing, and web filtering, making it a complete parental control solution.
Whether you choose Snapchat’s built-in parental controls or Parentaler, the most important step is having regular conversations with your child about online safety.
A combination of technology, education, and open communication is the best way to keep kids safe on Snapchat.
