Is Snapchat Safe for Kids?
Age rating is set by Google Play, not by Unstar. This page explains it and adds what parents report in reviews. Not affiliated with Snap Inc.
What Snapchat's age rating means
Snapchat is rated Teen on the Google Play, meaning it targets older teenagers, not young children. With parental controls and an honest conversation, many teens use apps like this fine, but the rating exists for a reason.
Things for parents to check
- Snapchat offers in-app purchases. Without a purchase password or spending limit, a child can run up charges. Set up Ask to Buy (iOS) or a Play purchase PIN (Android).
- Snapchat shows ads. Ads inside kids' apps can lead to unexpected content or accidental taps that open other stores or links.
What parents and users report about Snapchat
Users frequently complain about Snapchat's lack of security, inappropriate content, and technical issues. Many report being banned without explanation, encountering explicit or disturbing content, and experiencing app crashes or bugs.
Summarized from 181 recent 1-3 star reviews. These are user reports, not verified claims.
How to keep your child safe with Snapchat
Settings, Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions. Set an age limit for apps, require Ask to Buy for purchases, and restrict or remove Snapchat if it is above your child's age.
Use Google Family Link to approve installs, set a Play Store content rating limit, require purchase approval, and block or uninstall Snapchat on your child's device.
Snapchat for kids: frequently asked questions
Is Snapchat safe for kids?
Snapchat has an official age rating of Teen on the Google Play, aimed at older teens rather than young children. It can be appropriate with guidance, parental controls, and a conversation about what to share and who to talk to.
What age rating does Snapchat have?
The Google Play rates Snapchat as Teen. This is the store's own content rating, set from the app's features and content, not our opinion. Use it as the starting point for whether it fits your child's age.
Can my child use Snapchat safely?
If you decide to allow it, use device parental controls: Screen Time and Content & Privacy Restrictions on iPhone, or Family Link and Play Store parental controls on Android. Turn on purchase approval, set age-appropriate content limits, and keep the account under your family group so you can see activity.
How do I block or remove Snapchat from my child's phone?
On iPhone, open Settings, Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions, then restrict or delete the app and block reinstalling it. On Android, open Family Link, select your child, find Snapchat and block or uninstall it. You can also set a store age limit so apps above your child's age cannot be installed.