Snapchat has become one of the most popular social media apps, especially among younger users. A big part of Snapchat’s appeal is that it claims to be more private and secure than other social networks. But does Snapchat really keep your personal information safe? Here’s a look at what data Snapchat collects and what they do with it.
What personal information does Snapchat collect?
When you first sign up for Snapchat, you need to provide basic personal details like your name, email address, phone number, and date of birth. Snapchat requires user authentication through a phone number to help prevent spam accounts.
Once you start using Snapchat, the app collects data about how you use it. This includes who you friend, what content you view, who you communicate with, location data if you have that enabled, and more. Snapchat maps your contacts against its user base to recommend friends for you to follow.
Some of the personal data Snapchat can collect includes:
- Name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Date of birth
- Location data
- Contacts/friends
- Content viewed
- Messages sent and received
- Photos and videos shared
- Camera and microphone permissions
Snapchat also collects data through the Snap Kit developer platform. Third-party apps integrated with Snap Kit can share certain user data with Snapchat, subject to user consent. This can include profile info, friends list, location, etc.
Does Snapchat sell your personal data?
Snapchat states in their Privacy Policy that they do not sell or rent personal user data to third parties. However, they do use and share non-identifiable, aggregated user data for research and analytics purposes. Snapchat shares some personal data with vendors and service providers who help them operate and improve their services.
While Snapchat doesn’t directly sell individual user data, they do leverage user data for advertising purposes. They allow advertisers to target highly customized ads based on details like your interests, location, gender, device type, and more. Snapchat uses automatic scanning to extract keywords from your Snaps to better target relevant ads.
Does Snapchat share personal data with other companies?
Yes, Snapchat does share certain user data with other companies, including:
- Affiliates – Snapchat may share information with affiliated companies like Bitmoji.
- Service providers – Third parties help Snapchat operate services and target ads. These may access limited personal info.
- Law enforcement – Snapchat may share info with law enforcement if compelled by legal request.
- Research partners – Shared data is aggregated and stripped of direct identifiers.
- Business transfer – User info transfers to new owner if Snapchat is acquired.
Snapchat outlines in their Privacy Policy what types of third parties may receive user data and for what purposes. They say they do not share personal information externally without consent unless it’s required by law or integral to operations.
Does Snapchat monitor private messages and content?
Snapchat claims they do not proactively monitor or read private content like Snaps or Chats. However, their automated systems do analyze and scan content like photos and videos to provide certain features. This includes:
- Scanning Snaps for keywords to improve ad targeting
- Analyzing images and videos for inappropriate content
- Detecting spammy or abusive activity
Snapchat states their systems are designed to operate with minimal human review of content. But they do say content may occasionally be reviewed if detected as violating their guidelines. And Snapchat complies with valid legal requests from law enforcement when compelled.
Does Snapchat delete your snaps and messages?
One of Snapchat’s big selling points is that all photos, videos, and messages are deleted after being viewed. Once a Snap expires or is deleted by both parties, Snapchat claims they automatically delete it from their servers.
However, there are a few cases where content may persist:
- Recipient takes screenshot – Snapchat can’t detect or delete screenshots
- Device is hacked or forensically analyzed
- Bug in Snapchat’s system fails to delete
- Law enforcement request compels Snapchat to preserve
There are also time limits on when snaps and chats are automatically deleted. For snaps, this ranges from 1 to 10 seconds, set by sender. Chats are deleted after both parties leave the chat screen. However, Snapchat does warn that content deleted from their servers may persist in external storage or backups.
Can police or government view Snapchat data?
Like all technology companies, Snapchat is subject to legal requests for user data from government agencies and law enforcement. Their Law Enforcement Guide outlines what types of requests they accept and their process.
Types of data Snapchat may provide in response to a valid legal demand include:
- Basic subscriber info
- Snap content
- Location data
- Stored photos and videos
- Chat logs
- Memories/story content
Snapchat states that while they aim to protect user privacy, they also have a legal obligation to produce relevant data when required under law. The volume of requests Snapchat receives and number they comply with is documented in their transparency reports.
Does Snapchat collect data from underage users?
Yes, Snapchat does allow teens under 18 to create accounts with parental permission. Their Privacy Policy states:
“We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13, nor do we allow such persons to create an account with us. In addition, our Services are not directed to children under the age of 13.”
However, for users between 13-18, Snapchat does collect their data in the same way as adult users. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires parental consent for this data collection. Parents are expected to monitor underage use and place appropriate controls.
Does Snapchat read your private snaps?
Snapchat claims they do not proactively access, view, or read users’ private communications like Snaps and Chats. However, there are some cases where Snapchat employees or systems may access private content:
- Content is flagged by automatic monitoring systems
- Account is flagged for violations and reviewed
- Valid law enforcement request
- Consent from sender and recipient
Snapchat states any access by employees is extremely limited. They aim to rely on automated systems as much as possible. Random manual reviews only happen if their systems detect a violation of terms. Overall, Snapchat stresses that regular Snaps are not viewed, but they do keep the right to access accounts and content to enforce their policies.
Does Snapchat listen to your conversations?
Snapchat seeks microphone access permission from users in order to enable certain features like video chatting or voice messaging. However, they claim they do not use microphone audio to target ads or content.
Snapchat does acknowledge that if you enable the speech-to-text transcription feature for chat conversations, audio from your mic will be sent to their vendor partner. This is only to provide the transcription service and is deleted immediately after.
There has been some anecdotal concern of Snapchat “listening in” on conversations to target ads, similar to Facebook and Instagram. But Snapchat asserts they do not access microphone audio without user opt-in consent. There is no evidence that Snapchat records ambient conversations or uses microphone data for ad targeting.
How to increase Snapchat privacy and security
If you’re concerned about Snapchat’s collection and use of personal data, there are a few things you can do to increase privacy and security:
- Limit permissions – Only allow necessary access like camera and contacts.
- Enable Ghost Mode – Stops location tracking and visibility.
- Don’t connect other apps – Revoke Snap Kit connections.
- Avoid public profiles – Keep your profile and stories private.
- Be selective with content – Assume anything shared may persist.
- Use expiration – Set snaps and stories to delete quickly.
- Turn off ad personalization – Opt out of targeted ads.
- Strengthen account security – Enable 2FA and strong password.
- Monitor connections – Prune friends list and block suspicious accounts.
While Snapchat collects a fair amount of personal data, they do generally seem to take privacy more seriously than some other platforms. Following secure practices for your account and being mindful of what data you share can help keep your information safe.
Does deleting Snapchat delete your account?
Simply deleting the Snapchat app off your device does not delete your Snapchat account. You have to specifically request account deletion in the Snapchat app settings.
Here’s how to fully delete your Snapchat account:
- Open Snapchat app and go to your profile
- Go to the Settings menu and select “Support”
- Tap “My Account” then “Delete My Account”
- Enter your password to confirm account deletion
Snapchat warns that accounts can’t be reactivated after deletion. And some data may still be retained on their servers for legal compliance or analytics, albeit disassociated from your identity.
If you only temporarily deactivate your account, your data is preserved for up to 30 days in case you log back in. Fully deleting removes it more permanently, but echoes may linger in Snapchat’s systems.
Conclusion
Snapchat collects a wide array of personal information from its users, ranging from basic account details to location data to in-app activity. This powers Snapchat’s services, features, and advertising targeting.
While Snapchat doesn’t sell individual data directly, they do leverage it for ad revenue. And legal requests mean law enforcement can sometimes access private snaps or account info.
However, Snapchat appears to take privacy more seriously than some competitors. Private snaps are deleted quickly by default, and the app has disappearing messages and stories. There’s also no evidence Snapchat looks at private content without consent.
Overall, Snapchat gathers extensive personal data but seems to generally handle it responsibly. Users concerned about privacy do have options to increase security, control data collection, and minimize exposure.