Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send photos, videos, and messages that disappear after being viewed. One of Snapchat’s key features is that it promotes spontaneity and privacy. However, like other social media platforms, Snapchat also has privacy settings and options that allow users to control who can view their content.
What are the privacy settings on Snapchat?
Snapchat has several privacy settings and options to choose from:
- Who Can View My Story – You can choose if you want everyone, friends only, or a custom list to view your story.
- See Me in Quick Add – You can decide if you want your profile to be suggested to other Snapchatters to add.
- View My Location – You can turn off the map feature so others can’t see your location.
- Blocked Accounts – You can block other users from viewing your content or interacting with you.
- Contact Me – You can limit who can contact you directly on Snapchat.
- Allow Others to View Your Story – You can choose if you want to allow your friends to share your story.
- Screenshot Notification – You can turn on notifications to know if someone takes a screenshot of your snaps.
In your main Snapchat settings, you can also choose to keep your phone number, email, and username private. Your birthday and name can also be hidden if you want.
How do I change my privacy settings?
Here are the steps to customize your privacy settings on Snapchat:
- Tap your profile icon in the top left corner.
- Tap the gear icon to access your settings.
- Under the “Who Can” section, tap on each option to change the privacy.
- For story privacy, choose if you want friends, certain friends, or no one to view.
- Toggle off Quick Add if you don’t want to be suggested.
- Toggle off location sharing if you don’t want others to see.
To block accounts:
- Go to your friends list in the app.
- Tap and hold the name of the person you want to block.
- Tap “More” then select “Block” to confirm.
You can also block someone who has added you as a friend by going to “Added Me” instead of friends list.
Can I hide my friend list or block people from seeing it?
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely hide your friend list from others on Snapchat. Your friends list is always public and viewable by anyone you’re friends with on the app.
However, you can use these methods to have more privacy around your connections:
- Only add close friends you are comfortable knowing your other friends.
- Use Snapchat’s “best friends” feature to only share certain stories with your closest friends.
- Block people you don’t want having access to your profile and friend list.
- Limit your interactions and don’t open snaps from strangers or vague acquaintances.
While Snapchat doesn’t allow you to hide your friend list from friends, by carefully choosing who to connect with and limiting interactions, you can still maintain some privacy over who can see your social circle.
Can I approve friends before they are added?
No, Snapchat does not have an approve friend request feature. Once you accept someone as a friend, they are automatically added and can view your stories.
The only way to “approve” friends is by only accepting requests from people you actually want to connect with. Here are some tips:
- Only swipe up to add back people you know and trust.
- Avoid adding back random people or accounts you’re unsure about.
- Tell friends to let you know before they add you on Snapchat.
- Remove people immediately if they are inappropriate or making you uncomfortable.
While auto-adding friends can be risky, being selective about who you accept requests from allows you to still have control over your connections. If someone bothersome adds you, you can always block them after the fact.
Can I view my privacy settings on a computer?
No, Snapchat’s privacy settings can only be accessed and changed in the mobile app. The Snapchat website and web profiles do not have any options to manage your privacy or security preferences.
Everything from story privacy to blocked accounts must be handled in the iOS or Android app. There is no way for users to view or alter their Snapchat privacy on a desktop or laptop computer.
Some tips for managing your privacy without access on a computer:
- Periodically check your settings to ensure they haven’t been changed by an update.
- Write down your preferences so you remember what you’ve set.
- Adjust privacy whenever you add new friends.
- Enable Touch/Face ID to prevent others from accessing your account.
While it may be inconvenient, regularly checking your mobile settings is the only way to have control over your Snapchat privacy.
Can someone save your snaps without you knowing?
Yes, despite Snapchat’s disappearing messages, there are ways for others to save your snaps without your knowledge:
- Taking screenshots – Recipients can take screenshots to save chats, photos, videos, and stories. You can turn on screenshot notifications, but these can still be bypassed.
- Third-party apps – There are apps that allow the auto-saving of snaps before they disappear.
- Recording video – Users can record video or take pictures of your snaps with another device.
- Recovering deleted files – Snapchat photos may still be retrieved from devices even after being deleted.
Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee privacy when sending disappearing snaps. Even if screenshot notifications are enabled, recipients can find workarounds.
The safest practice is to be very selective about what you send and who you send snaps to. Assume anything you share could be saved without your consent.
Does deleting a conversation delete it for both parties?
Yes, deleting conversations in Snapchat removes the messages for both you and the person you were chatting with.
Here’s how it works:
- In your chat screen, tap and hold the conversation you want to delete.
- Tap “Delete Conversation” then confirm the deletion.
- The chat will disappear from your inbox and your friend’s inbox.
- All snaps, messages, videos, etc. in that chat will be deleted.
- You can no longer access or recover that conversation history.
However, as mentioned above, any snaps or media exchanged could have been saved by the recipient beforehand without your knowledge. So while the conversation will show deleted on both ends, they may still have copies of the actual content.
Can you tell if someone screenshots your snap without consent?
Yes, Snapchat has a feature that allows you to be notified if someone takes a screenshot of your snap. Here’s how it works:
- Go to your Snapchat settings
- Tap on “Screenshot Notification”
- Toggle on “On” to enable notifications
Now anytime a recipient takes a screenshot of your snap, you’ll receive an alert letting you know.
However, be aware that there are still ways around this for determined screenshotters:
- Using another camera or device to photograph the snap
- Accessing Snapchat via third party apps and taking screenshots that don’t notify
- Jailbreaking or rooting a device to bypass screenshot detection
The notifications offer some protection, but can’t prevent all unwanted saving. Be thoughtful about trusting others with sensitive or private snaps.
Can you see the privacy settings of your Snapchat friends?
No, Snapchat has no option to view the privacy settings or account information of your friends. The only settings and preferences you can see are your own in your account.
You have no way to check what options friends have enabled unless they directly tell you. For example, you won’t know if they have viewing their story set to “Friends Only” versus “Everyone.”
Some signs that a friend may have stricter privacy settings enabled:
- If you can’t view their story
- If you are no longer able to see their location
- If you get removed as a friend suddenly
But without access to their actual settings, you can only guess why or what restrictions they may have put in place. Snapchat keeps friends’ privacy controls private.
Is there a way to lock Snapchat so others can’t open it?
Yes, Snapchat allows you to enable additional security on your account by requiring a passcode, pattern, or fingerprint to open the app.
Here’s how to set up an extra lock:
- Go to Settings > Login Verification
- Tap “Unlock with Passcode” or “Unlock with Touch ID”
- Choose to unlock with a 4-digit passcode, custom numeric passcode, or fingerprint.
Now whenever you (or anyone else) tries to open Snapchat, your chosen unlock method will be required before getting into the app.
This can prevent others from accessing your conversations, photos, settings, and location if they get ahold of your phone. The passcode also hides message previews and content until unlocked.
Can you tell if someone took a screenshot of your story?
No, unfortunately Snapchat does not send notifications if someone takes a screenshot of your story like it does for personal snaps.
Stories have no built-in screenshot detection because they are designed to be visible to your entire friends list.
Some things to keep in mind about story privacy:
- Adjust your settings so only “My Friends” can view stories.
- Be thoughtful about what you share publicly in stories.
- Avoid adding random people you don’t trust.
While you won’t get notified, you can somewhat control who might be taking screenshots by limiting your audience and friends list. But there is no foolproof way to know if your story is being saved by someone.
Conclusion
Snapchat offers customizable privacy settings and options like screenshot notifications to help users control their content. However, determined recipients can still find ways to bypass settings and save snaps without consent in many cases.
The only true way to maintain privacy on Snapchat is being cautious about what you share and who you share it with. Adjust your settings according to your comfort level, but assume anything you post could be seen by more than just your intended audience.
With caution and smart friends lists, Snapchat can be used more privately. But no social media accounts are ever fully secure or private. Maintaining your privacy is ultimately about thoughtful content sharing and self-restraint.