Snapchat has unfortunately got itself a bit of a rep as being a popular route of ‘sexting’. We think it’s a tad unfair, because come on, who hasn’t sexted on Twitter or Facebook or WhatsApp or Googlemail or Instagram, LinkedIn (that's what 'team skills' endorsements are for, come on!) or whatever other social media outlet you have at the end of your horny fingers?
That’s why the company has launched a safety centre and a guide for parents.
In the guide, the makers explain: ‘Though there's nothing inherently dangerous about Snapchat, early news coverage fairly predictably associated disappearing photos sent on phones with “sexting”’
‘But most people – including most teens – don’t use Snapchat that way. They use it because it’s fun.’
The thing is, there’s no data that says that a) sexting isn’t fun b) how many sexts are sent using Snapchat a day, but there is more than enough evidence out there to say that sexts are pretty bad when they involve people aged under 18. Did you know that a NSPCC survey in 2013 found that six out of ten teenagers have been asked for sexual images or videos? Four out of ten have created a sexual image or video. It makes sense that big social media companies like Snapchat are looking to stop this sort of thing.
Their advice, though? ‘If you’re under 18 or are Snapping with someone who might be: keep your clothes on’
It's pretty good, for a start…
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.