Snapchat, when used responsibly, is a fun and harmless way to message friends and send photos and videos called Snaps. However, some users are unable to stop snapping and develop a Snapchat addiction, affecting their mental health and well-being.
This article explains the potential dangers of Snapchat and why messaging apps are so addictive.
Who Uses Snapchat?
Snapchat is very popular with teenagers.According to a Pew Research Group study
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https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/
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, 62% of US teens aged 13-17 will use the app in 2022, making it the fourth most visited social media platform after YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. The survey also found that her 15% of her teens in the US use Snapchat “almost all the time.”
Kate, a 15-year-old British teen, recently started using the app after feeling peer pressure to download it. If I didn’t have it now, I would have felt really alienated – everyone I know uses it.
Statistics are not readily available to younger users as the official minimum age is 13.
More Snapchat stats and demographics from Omnicore
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https://www.omnicoreagency.com/snapchat-statistics/
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- About 51% of Snapchat users are female and 49% are male.
- Snapchat has 375 million daily active users, 88.5 million of whom are in the United States.
- Over 4 billion snaps (photos and videos) are created every day.
- Snapchat users open the app more than 30 times a day on average.
- Daily active users spend at least 30 minutes on Snapchat.
- The main reasons people use Snapchat are to keep in touch with friends, share photos, and use filters and lenses.
Statistics on Snapchat addiction are not available, but recent reports indicate that more than 12% of tweens and 34% of teenagers in the US may be addicted to social media.
What are the pros and cons of Snapchat?
Some consider Snapchat dangerous and toxic, while others claim there are benefits to using the app. Let’s take a look at Snapchat’s pros and cons.
Positive effects of Snapchat
- According to a report commissioned by Snapchat, 95% of users say the app makes them happier because it lets them be themselves, connect with friends, and share their everyday lives.
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https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/snapchat-releases-new-report-on-how-and-why-people-use-different-social-app/545552/×
- Teens have a place to socialize and connect with friends easily accessible 24/7.
- Users can send photos and videos that (in theory) are automatically deleted, so no embarrassment remains forever.
- The app is very popular with teens because it features games, quizzes, celebrity videos and entertainment channels along with fun filters that you can add to your photos and videos.
- Since you need a phone number and username to interact with people, the risk of stranger danger is lessened.
Negative effects of Snapchat
- Auto-disappearing messages, photos, and videos can give users a false sense of security and lead them to share more sensitive content than other apps. It’s not really gone, though, as recipients can take screenshots of the content live and share it with others.
- Cyberbullying is a common occurrence by bullies who take advantage of the fact that messages are time-limited.
- Parents can no longer monitor their child’s activity on Snapchat, as information sent and received is automatically deleted.
- The unrealistic images presented by the selfie filter have people questioning how Snapchat affects their mental health and well-being. It can cause depression etc.
- Snap Map is a feature that allows users to share their physical location with users on their friends list. This can be dangerous if teens have contacts who aren’t real friends.
- Snapstreak is another feature that can negatively affect users and lead to compulsive and problematic behavior. Please refer to the following.
What makes Snapchat so addictive?
The main reason Snapchat is so addicting is the Snapstreak feature. On Instagram, user popularity is measured by likes, but on Snapchat, status is all about maintaining a winning streak.
A snap streak is the number of days two people snapped at each other. To keep a streak, you must send at least one snap of her every 24 hours. For some teens, the pressure to manage multiple streaks at once and keep them all going can become an obsession and lead to Snapchat addiction.
Teens and young adults are particularly vulnerable to Snapchat addiction because their prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain that controls impulsive and compulsive behavior) doesn’t fully develop until their mid-twenties. .
Snapchat Addiction Signs
If you think you might be Snapchat addicted, or have a teenage son or daughter who is Snapchat addicted, here are some warning signs.
- I feel an overwhelming urge to use Snapchat. This is the first thing I check every morning and the last thing I check every night.
- We will go to great lengths to maintain our snap streak. You can even give your login details to your friends so they can keep your streak even if you can’t do it yourself.
- We’re looking for potential Snapchat story material wherever we are.
- Post Snapchat Stories longer than 2 minutes rather than a quick “snap.”
- To experience the same high, you need to spend more and more time on Snapchat.
- Attempts to control, reduce, or stop using Snapchat will not be successful.
- Feeling irritable, restless, or anxious when not using Snapchat.
- Use Snapchat to escape negative emotions and real-world problems.
- You spend so much time on Snapchat that you ignore your friends, family, school, or work commitments.
- Loss of interest in all other previously enjoyed hobbies and activities.
How to stop Snapchat addiction
So how do you break your Snapchat addiction? Here are some tips to help you or your teenager have a healthier relationship with apps.
disable notifications
Turning off notifications is one of the easiest ways to stop Snapchat controlling you. Tap your profile icon in the upper left corner of the screen, tap the gear icon in the upper right corner, and tap[通知]then tap[通知を有効にする]to disable all Snapchat alerts. You can also put your phone into “Do Not Disturb” mode or turn off the sound so you don’t want to peep every time it vibrates.
delete a conversation
By clearing all your Snapchat conversations once a week, you won’t have to engage in headless chats anymore.[設定]and[アカウント アクション]Go to[会話をクリア]next to your name, then tap[X]to clear the conversation. We recommend archiving a conversation rather than deleting it permanently. To do this, tap the clock icon near the top of your chat window.
fill time with other activities
Find other ways to spend your time so that Snapchat isn’t the only thing you’re interested in. Our Hobbies tool has over 70 ideas for new activities, mostly off-screen.
talk to your teen
If you think your teen is addicted to Snapchat, have an open conversation about it. Find out why they turned to apps to get to the root cause of their addiction. In our experience, many of his teens use social media to escape reality or seek peer attention and approval. Learn techniques to talk to your son or daughter about using technology in our free Parent Support Groups on Facebook.
Rest
Take a break from Snapchat for a while. Find other ways to socialize to avoid FOMO, even if this means breaking snap streaks. Instead of chatting on the app, I suggest meeting your friends in person to share their real-life experiences.
Delete the Snapchat app
If you or your child can’t seem to take a break from Snapchat, consider deleting the app to remove the temptation to check it all the time.
If the above tips don’t work, you may be wondering, “Why am I so addicted to Snapchat and why can’t I stop using the app?” You may need professional help.
How to get help for Snapchat addiction
If you or someone you care about is showing signs of Snapchat addiction, you’re not alone. Game Quitters coaching programs are designed to give individuals and families the tools and motivation to take back control of their technology.
For more information on how we can help with Snapchat addiction, contact us to book a Gameplan Strategy Call. We have limited spots available.
