Snapchat Stories, Securely Shared: 8 Tips for Protecting Your Content Online

The core functionality that Snapchat prides itself on is the temporary nature of content shared on the platform. Users of all stripes – from teens to adults – are sending playful, often personal snaps with an expiration time.

Here’s the catch: if someone attempts to take a screenshot, the person who sent the snap is supposed to be alerted. However, it’s important to point out that this doesn’t prevent the screenshot from being taken.

Consequently, other software solutions have emerged, aiming to circumvent Snapchat’s detection mechanism. This has stoked significant concern regarding both security and privacy.

Snapchat’s approach to privacy and security certainly has its gaps, evidenced by these workarounds. So, let’s tackle this head-on: below, you’ll find Snapchat security tips.

 How to Protect Content Online?

1 Friends Only

By default, Snapchat accounts are configured for friends-only visibility. This favored setting significantly bolsters user privacy, allowing only reciprocated friends to exchange and view Snaps.

Maintaining this option is advisable. The visibility of your Snaps remains within a trusted circle. Choosing ‘Anyone’ as an option opens your Snaps and Stories to the public eye. Such exposure holds the potential for undesirable outcomes.

2 Use a VPN

When you connect to Snapchat over unsecured Wi-Fi, your data can be stolen. If you use a VPN, you don’t have to worry about this outcome. Additional VPN features allow you to encrypt data and make it inaccessible to third parties.

There are technically advanced VPN services like VeePN that can also protect against viruses, phishing, and DDoS attacks. Another advantage of VeePN is its no-logs VPN. That is, no one will receive your data from the VPN provider, because they simply do not exist.

3 Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Enabling two-factor authentication significantly enhances your Snapchat account’s security. It serves as a robust barrier against unauthorized individuals attempting to gain access.

With this security measure activated, signing in will require two distinct forms of identification: your password plus a unique verification code. This code is sent directly to your mobile device.

Activating two-factor authentication is straightforward. Begin by navigating to your Profile. Next, proceed to Settings and locate SMS Verification.

Toggle this feature to activate it and follow the prompts that Snapchat provides to complete the setup process. With these steps, rest assured that your Snapchat presence is safeguarded.

4 Choose a Strong Password

When creating a password, it’s essential to pick one that is a minimum of 8 characters and doesn’t feature identifiable information like your child’s name, account handle, phone digits, or birth date. It’s beneficial for the strength of a password to be elevated by a mix of numerical figures, and symbols, plus both uppercase and lowercase alphabetic characters.

It’s a steadfast rule not to divulge passwords with others, and equally crucial not to recycle them across assorted applications or online services. In the event that your child fails to recall their Snapchat password, they’re prompted to initiate a password recovery process.

Remember, the process for resetting the password may hit roadblocks under certain conditions such as:

• The submitted email by your child doesn’t align with the one linked to the Snapchat account,
• There’s a lapse in memory regarding the email or phone number required for recovery, or
• There’s no current access to the corresponding email or phone number on file for the account.

5 Don’t Forget To Verify Email And Mobile Number

Ensure the email and phone connected to your child’s account are up-to-date. Accurate contact details are crucial for password recovery on Snapchat.

Update the email in a few easy steps:

• Navigate to your child’s profile and tap the settings icon.
• Hit ‘Email’, then ‘Email address’.
• Input a valid email, which will be confirmed by Snapchat shortly.

Verification fortifies account security, a smart move for safeguarding your child’s digital presence. Of course, no one has canceled the use of other protective measures. The combination of free VPN for Chrome, 2FA and verified credentials results in a robust security mix. Ideally, it is better to use all the tips at once.

6 Hide Yourself

Snapchat has unveiled a new feature: Quick Add. This nifty addition appears at the bottom of your chat listings and on the stories page. It offers a curated list of potential friends that you share mutual contacts with, simplifying the way you broaden your social network.

Should your Quick Add option be activated, your profile may pop up in the Quick Add area on the devices of your friends’ acquaintances.

However, if you prefer to keep a low profile and avoid appearing in this section, there’s an easy fix. Simply tap on your Profile, then Settings (marked by a gear icon), and deselect the option tagged as ‘See Me in Quick Add.’

7 Ignore Random Requests

Even if the “Quick Add” feature is disabled, you may still find unexpected friend requests in your Snapchat inbox. These unsolicited invites could pose a risk to privacy because by accepting them, the individual gains access to your Snapchat Stories history. To maintain your privacy, promptly dismiss these requests by pressing “Ignore.”

Should someone persistently try to add you despite your lack of interest—continuously sending requests after you’ve ignored them—you have the option to block them. Initiate this process by tapping on the Ghost icon, which will lead you to your profile tab.

From there, locate and click on “Added Me.” Thumb through the list until you find the bothersome user, tap on the Cog icon beside their name, and proceed to select “Block” to prevent any further disruptions.

8 Pay Attention to Screenshot Notifications

Snapchat notifies you with a “Username took a screenshot!” alert when a friend captures your snap. Think of this as crucial feedback—it should guide your future snapping decisions.

Screenshots of your snaps by someone can end up anywhere on the Internet, or they might share it with others. For snappers, even trusted friends and family members can pose a risk—innocuous as screenshotting may seem. Caution in what images or messages you send is advisable; “just in case” isn’t just a saying—it’s a smart approach.

 Conclusion

If you want to stay safe on Snapchat, you just need to take preventative security measures. The listed 8 tips are aimed at ensuring that no outsider can manipulate and gain access to personal data. There are no technically complex solutions among them, so each user will be able to organize an impenetrable defense.