More than 20 million teens in the U.S. use Snapchat, and we know their digital wellbeing is a top priority for adults in their lives, including parents and teachers. As teens head back to school, we’re launching new safety tools and resources created specifically for educators.
These new resources were designed to help educators and school administrators understand how their students use Snapchat, the key protections available to students and schools, and the resources we offer to assist schools in their efforts to create safe and supportive environments for students.
We know that Snapchat’s primary use case of messaging with friends makes people happy, and that friends are an important support system for young people. We’re focused on supporting these meaningful relationships, and equipping the adults in their lives with the tools and resources to do so as well.
Educator’s Guide to Snapchat
We believe that staying connected with students means familiarizing yourself with popular online platforms, and we’re introducing a dedicated website to help educators do just that.
Our Educator’s Guide to Snapchat includes an overview of how the platform works, ways Snapchat can be used positively within school communities, and information about our safety tools and Community Guidelines. It also includes new videos highlighting Snap’s features for schools and safeguards for teens, as well as downloadable resources that educators can share with parents, counselors and others to help students handle risks they may face online, including bullying, mental health concerns and sexual harms like sextortion.
Educator Resources, Developed with Expert Partners
We partnered with Safe and Sound Schools to develop a comprehensive and practical toolkit for educators. Building on insights from teachers, mental health professionals and school resource officers about the impact of digital platforms on school environments, this toolkit was created to provide educators with the knowledge needed to support the safety and wellbeing of their students online, with a specific focus on understanding Snapchat.
Educator Feedback Form
We’ve long empowered Snapchatters with easy-to-use tools for reporting a safety concern directly to us and blocking accounts engaging in unwanted or inappropriate contact. We also offer online reporting tools for anyone who doesn’t have a Snapchat account, but would like to report an issue on behalf of themselves or others. Reports go straight to our safety teams, who work 24/7 to take appropriate action.
Now, we’re introducing a way for educators to give us feedback directly. With our new educator feedback form, educators can share their perspectives and insights about how Snapchat is being utilized in their school communities.
We know that navigating the digital landscape can be challenging, and we hope these resources provide educators with some of the tools they need to create safe and supportive digital environments for students.
(Source: Snapchat)
