How Old Do You Have To Be To Be On Snapchat

They don't make it hard to fool (Picture: J. Emilio Flores/Corbis via Getty Images)

You may not have realised, but there is actually a minimum age to use Snapchat.

The photo and video messaging app requires its users to be a minimum of 13 years old to use their app.

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The regulation is in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) which tries to protect children from the deregulated space of the internet where they are not protected from things that want to hurt and take advantage of them.

However, they don't make it very hard to fool, do they?

When you open the Snapchat app for the first time and haven't created an account or username yet, you have to go through the whole process.

It is at this juncture that Snapchat asks you for your date of birth.

(Picture: Ute Grabowsky/Photothek/Getty)

The child setting up the account can choose to be honest and insert their correct birth year, and if they are under 13 the app then redirects the child to SnapKidz.

SnapKidz is an app without all the bells and whistles of Snapchat, and exists mainly as a camera app as the child cannot send or receive any snaps or add friends.

All of the snaps they take are saved to their camera roll of their phone.

If the child is met with the age question when setting up the account chooses to insert a fictitious birth date or birth year to make them 13 or older then they have full access to the app.

No questions asked: if they say they older than 13 then they are – clearly.

Logo: Snapchat. Anti-bullying campaigners are gravely worried how Snapchat is being misused by bullies to taunt children. It is also being used to send sexual images. Snapchat is an app that allows users to take photos, record videos, add text and drawings and then send these to a select list of recipients. Snapchat app was developed by Stanford University students in the US.

Anti-bullying campaigners are gravely worried how Snapchat is being misused by bullies to taunt children (Picture: Snapchat)

Why is Snapchat dangerous for children?

Parents are worried about their kids using Snapchat freely because of the fact that the app is known for the fact that pictures and videos disappear instantly and so the users aren't plagued with the thought that the material will stay online forever.

The app is notorious for pornographic images being shared in private and the recipient being able to screenshot and share the photos publicly with other people without the permission of the person in the photo.

Snapchat is another outlet for cyber-bullying which is something parents want to protect children from at all costs.

If the app is used for harassment, bullying or sexting it can be particularly damaging for a child using Snapchat as the people they connect with on the app are usually their friends.

It is hard to connect with people on the app that you don't actually know, as you need to know their username and they have to add you back in order for snaps to deliver.

Don't create a culture of secrecy, if your child wants to use Snapchat don't prohibit them but advise and protect them (Picture: Shutterstock)

How can you make Snapchat safer?

There is one setting in Snapchat that can really help to make a difference in the safety of the app.

This setting will make sure that random strangers can't send your child photos or videos on Snapchat.

Enter the settings section of the app, go to your camera screen, click on the bitmoji or ghost icon on the top left-hand corner of the screen – this is the cog symbol on the top

Then you will be on your username and Snapcode page, at the top right-hand corner there is a cog symbol, click on this to enter settings for your Snapchat.

Over 7 billion Snaps are transfered on the app every day (Picture: studioEAST/Getty)

Scroll down until you see the words 'Who Can…' then you will see the varying options underneath.

To make Snapchat safer select 'My Friends' on each of these options instead of 'Everyone'.

Also, it is really important that as a child, or a young vulnerable person you hide your location on the Snap Map, Snapchat new stalky map feature.

You need to change your setting to 'Ghost Mode' here which means that your location is hidden from the map, so people can't see where you are, but you can still enter the Snap Map feature and see other people's locations – as long as they are publicly sharing it.

Talk to your children about your worries and help them protect themselves online (Picture: Getty)

How do you block Snapchat friends?

It's very important for anyone who uses Snapchat to know how to block a friend on the app if they are harassing them or generally upsetting them over the app.

Again go to your username and Snapcode screen where you will find 'My Friends' list, all you have to do is scroll down through your friends and click on the person you want to block.

Once their username and picture pop up you need to click the cog symbol in the right corner, then you can choose to block or remove the annoying person.

If they are causing real harm to you through Snapchat you can choose to report them to Snapchat who will investigate their behaviour.

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