Snapchat has become one of the most popular social media platforms, especially among young people. One of Snapchat’s key features is that it allows users to send disappearing messages and images that get automatically deleted after being viewed. This creates a perception that Snapchat communications are private and ephemeral.
However, as a parent or partner, you may be concerned about a loved one’s Snapchat activity and want to know if they are actively using Snapchat without having access to their location. There are a few different ways to detect Snapchat activity without location access.
Check Their Snapchat Score
Every Snapchat user has a Snapchat score, which is a number that increases when the user sends and receives snaps. The score is displayed next to the person’s name on their profile screen. If you can briefly access your loved one’s profile, you can note their score. Then check it again later. If the score has increased significantly, that indicates they have been actively sending and receiving snaps.
One thing to note is that scores do not decrease. So if you see any increase at all between score checks, even small, that means they were active on Snapchat within that time frame. The larger the increase, the more heavily they have been using Snapchat.
Things that increase Snapchat score:
- Sending a snap (image or video)
- Sending a chat
- Receiving a snap
- Receiving a chat
- Creating a story
- Viewing a story
- Adding new friends
So if you notice your loved one’s score going up, they are doing at least one of those activities on Snapchat. The more it increases, the more active they are.
Check Their Best Friends List
Snapchat has a Best Friends feature that shows you who you exchange snaps with the most. To see it, go to your loved one’s profile and tap on the smiley face icon next to their score. This will show their most frequently contacted friends.
If your loved one is actively using Snapchat, their Best Friends list will update regularly. The more it changes between checks, the more they are snapping different people.
Things to look for:
- New people appearing on the list
- The order of the list changing
- The number of snaps next to each friend increasing
Any of those indicate they are frequently snapping and interacting with others. An unchanged list likely means they haven’t been very active.
Check Their Snapchat Streaks
A Snapchat streak occurs when two friends have snapped each other within 24 hours for three or more consecutive days. For each day they continue the streak, a little emoji flame will appear next to the friend’s name, along with the number of days the streak has gone on.
To check for streaks, go to your loved one’s Friends screen. If you see multiple flames with high numbers, like “100 day streak” or more, it means they are regularly snapping those people daily. Lots of streaks indicate consistent Snapchat activity and engagement with others.
Things to look for:
- Multiple streaks, especially long-running ones (100+ days)
- Streaks with people you don’t know or recognize
- Increasing streak numbers between checks
Any of these suggest daily, ongoing Snapchat use. Just one or two low-number streaks may not be as indicative.
Check Their Snapchat Profile and Activity Status
Snapchat shows when users were last active on the app. To check this, go to your loved one’s profile screen. Under their name, it will say something like “Active 9m ago” or “Active 1d ago.” This tells you how recently they were using Snapchat.
Seeing “Active now” or a short timeframe like “Active 5m ago” indicates they are actively on Snapchat at that moment. Longer times like “Active 1d ago” suggest less frequent use.
Also look at their Snapchat profile. Frequently updated profile pictures, taglines, Bitmoji, etc. can indicate regular use of the app.
Things that suggest active use:
- “Active now” or short last active timeframe
- Frequently changed profile content
On the other hand, an unchanged profile or long inactive timeframe implies less activity.
Use a Snapchat Monitoring App
There are various third party apps available that can help monitor someone’s Snapchat activity if you have access to their device and account. Some examples include mSpy, FlexiSpy, and Highster Mobile.
These tools allow you to:
- View Snap history and snaps they have sent and received
- See chat messages
- See snap content even after it has disappeared from the app
- View stories
- See snap locations
- Get time stamps and date logs of activity
Using a monitoring app gives you comprehensive insight into your loved one’s Snapchat use. You can see exactly who they are snapping, what they are sending, what time of day they use it, and more. This gives you the full picture.
However, it is an invasion of privacy and in some cases may not be legal. Make sure you check relevant laws in your state or country before monitoring someone’s device without their consent.
Look for Snapchat Notifications on Their Phone
If your loved one receives their phone notifications on the lock screen, you may be able to get a sense of Snapchat activity by glancing at the notifications.
Things that would indicate Snapchat use:
- Frequent snap or chat notifications from various people
- “Snapstreaks about to end!” reminder notifications
- Alerts about snap replies, screenshots, etc.
Even without reading the content, you can get clues based on the frequency and context of notifications. Lots of Snapchat alerts implies active ongoing use.
Notice Changes in Their Behavior Related to Snapchat
Signs your loved one is using Snapchat frequently:
- Picking up their phone and using it immediately after receiving a notification
- Laughing at their phone after using it
- Leaving social gatherings or conversations to use their phone
- Angling their phone away from you or others to view it
- Using phone first thing in morning or last thing at night
These kinds of behavior patterns, especially if new or increasing, can indicateSnapchat addiction or compulsive use. They show the person is highly engaged on Snapchat throughout the day.
Use a Snapchat Tracking Website
Websites like Social Catfish allow you to conduct a Snapchat search using just a person’s username. When you enter your loved one’s username, it will show you public data including:
- Their Snapchat score and how it has increased over time
- Their total snaps sent and received
- Public photos and videos
- General activity level and statistics
This information can reveal if your loved one is an avid Snapchat user who sends a high volume of snaps. It gives insight without you needing their password or physical device.
Look for Physical Signs of Frequent Snapping
Some physical and behavioral indicators your loved one is an active Snapchat user:
- Pointing phone at themselves frequently to take selfies
- Laughing while using rear camera to take videos
- Perfecting hair, makeup, clothes before snapping
- Using Snapchat filters, lenses, and calling them “hilarious”
- Frequently snapping pictures of food, pets, surroundings, etc.
These motions and remarks are common among prolific Snapchat users. Frequent snapping becomes a habit. If you notice these behaviors, it can signal consistent Snapchat activity.
Talk to Them
If all else fails, consider just talking to your loved one about their Snapchat use. Say that you’ve noticed they seem very active on Snapchat lately, and you’re curious how much time they actually spend on it each day. Hear them out without judgement.
Let them know you come from a place of care, not accusation. You just want to understand their Snapchat behavior better. A calm, open discussion may reveal the truth directly from the source.
If they confess to constant Snapchat activity, explain your concerns and ask how they can manage it healthier. If they deny frequent use, observe if their behavior aligns with their stated use.
Conclusion
Determining if someone is active on Snapchat without their location is certainly possible. Snap scores, streak counts, usage times, and monitoring apps provide quantifiable data. But also observe changes in Snapchat habits, customs, and phone fixation.
Combining these digital clues with physical signs and open conversation creates a full snapshot. Stay ethical, but be proactive in keeping tabs on your loved one’s wellbeing. With some diligence, you can gain insight into their Snapchat activity level.