Key facts
- A survey found that one-third of 1,016 teen respondents saw or received unsafe content or messages on Snapchat in the past week.
- More than half of teens surveyed reported at least one negative experience on Snapchat in the past year.
- Top dangerous experiences included unwanted contact, bullying, and sexually suggestive content.
- Roughly 1 in 6 teens encountered hate speech or content related to drugs/alcohol.
- Over 40% of teens who received unwanted messages believed the sender was an adult.
- 44% of respondents reported not seeing unsafe content or messages in the past year.
A survey conducted by The Heat Initiative, in partnership with other advocacy groups, reveals that teenagers frequently encounter harmful content on Snapchat. Out of 1,016 respondents aged 10-17, one-third reported seeing or receiving unsafe content or messages in the past week, and over half experienced such issues in the past year. The most common problems included unwanted contact, bullying, and sexually suggestive material. Additionally, about 1 in 6 teens reported exposure to hate speech and content related to drugs or alcohol. More than 40% of those who received unwanted messages believed the sender was an adult. Sarah Gardner, CEO of The Heat Initiative, stated that these findings challenge Snap's claims about its safety features effectively preventing unsolicited messages from strangers to minors. Experts like Dr. Mitch Prinstein and Dr. Brian Levine expressed concern, urging parents to be aware of the differences in online experiences compared to their own and highlighting potential design flaws on platforms like Snapchat that may facilitate harmful interactions and hinder evidence gathering in exploitation cases.