Not long ago, the only social media site that gave parents a scare was AOL chat rooms. These days, new social sharing apps are popping up so quickly, it’s nearly impossible to keep track of them all. “Check here to verify you’re 18” is just the child-resistant tamper lock for teenagers; it’s not hard to figure out how to crack the code or get around the boundaries of what’s right and what’s wrong. We’ve already outlined a list of Alabama Sexting Laws to raise awareness of what can happen when two kids participate in inappropriate behavior online, so now let’s take a look at one of the most popular social networks where it’s actually happening the most: Snapchat.
Upon its release in 2011, Snapchat stood apart immediately by becoming the first social network to send disappearing content. Photos sent to other users only remain on screen between 1-10 seconds, and Stories are visible for 24 hours before vanishing into the void of internet cyberspace. Yet in reality, those who receive the images have the ability to quickly take a screenshot of the content, opening the door for a lieu of liability issues the moment a risqué photo is stored on a phone.
As parents, the most important lesson to teach your child in the world of social media technology is that nothing is private.
There have been apps created to hack Snapchat by secretly saving images and videos for unintended recipients. Even Snapchat servers will hold onto a portion of each of those fleeting moments “for safety reasons.” The metadata of Snaps, Stories, and Chats are stored for 31 days in the event that there is a court order to retrieve anything that may relevant to a crime.
Are you suspicious your child has been using Snapchat or another social media network to share inappropriate photos? There are signs to look for and programs to install that monitor behavior on social apps. One of those programs skyrocketing to popularity with over 2 million users is mSpy. For $40 a month, parents can secretly download the mSpy app onto their child’s phone (not even an icon will appear on the phone’s desktop) and monitor what they’re sending on Snapchat, along with who they’re calling, texting, emailing, and even their location.
If you happen to notice any kind of conduct that may warrant legal attention, such as underage sexting, cyberbullying, or threats, there are ways to protect your family. Have a conversation with your child, then contact the law offices of Sheffield and Lentine who have years of experience in teen sexting cases throughout the state of Alabama.
205 N. 20th St., Suite 915
Birmingham, AL 35203-4705
205-328-1365