Snap’s Family Center Doesn’t Do the Job
Fluff Over Substance
I’ve spent years teaching and coaching families about all things related to digital communication and online safety.
When I first heard that Snap was creating a Family Center, I was thrilled since Snapchat is one app that most parents list at the top of their list for apps that scare them.
When I discovered that what Snapchat actually created isn’t a parental control or monitoring tool but really fluff, rather than substantive change in terms of helping parents keep their kids safe online, it irked me.
The only thing this “family center” allows parents to do is see who their kid is friends with on the app and a list of who they’ve messaged in the last 7 days. In addition, the child has to voluntarily opt-in for parents to use the tool. Snapchat says they’ve designed it this way to encourage conversations between parents and kids about social media and using the app.
While I applaud wanting to increase communication between parents and their kids about social media, the reality is that this tool doesn’t address what parents really want or need to help them keep their kids safe online.
The Problems NOT Addressed
It’s every parent’s job to teach their kids how to stay safe online and use social media and technology “appropriately”. Part of teaching this skill involves some monitoring. Simply seeing the names (and in this case, usernames), isn’t enough. Some other key feature missing include:
· Not being able to disable the Snap Map
· Not being able to filter or be notified of dangerous activity like bullying, self-harm, pornography, or drug sales (just to name a few)
· Not being able to view content
· Not being able to set app screen-time limits
· Not being able to block contacts
· Not being able to turn off/on the apps spotlight or discover features which can expose kids to content they’re not ready to see
While every step to protect kids online is a step in the right direction, this feels more like a press stunt than an actual meaningful step to support parents who have the tough job of keeping their kids safe online.
Legislation that Could Actually HELP You
I am eagerly awaiting Congress to beef up COPPA (the 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act). COPPA currently affords privacy protections to kids under the age of 13.
There’s a bill in Congress (The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act) that would update the current law to raise protections for kids up to 12 to the age of 16. The new bill would not allow companies to collect personal information on anyone under the age of 16 AND create an “eraser” button that would allow children to remove their data from digital services and platforms.
In addition, there is another bill, The Kids Online Safety Act, that would require online platforms to provide parents and minors (under age 16) with easy-to-use tools to keep them safe, limit screen-time, and protect their data.
This proposal calls for apps/sites to create those tools for tracking time spent on an app/site and to be able to opt-out of features (like auto-play) that are designed to encourage more time spent online. It goes further, wanting companies to allow parents and minors the opportunity to modify app/site recommendation algorithms, which would allow families to limit or ban certain types of content to protect their kids.
Finally, the Kids Online Safety Act wants an obligation from companies to prevent the promotion of self-harm, eating disorders, bullying, and the sexual abuse of children on their apps/sites.
What Can You Do?
Want to get these bills passed?
Contact your representatives in the House and Senate and let them know how you feel.
Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act: S.1628
Kids Online Safety Act: S.3663
Sample Email
EMAIL SUBJECT: Act Now to Support Kids Online Safety and Privacy
Dear Senator/Representative [LAST NAME]:
I am a parent and I am writing to urge you to support the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (S.1628) and the Kids Online Safety Act (S.3663).
Parenting digital kids is no easy task and it’s every parent’s job to keep their kids safe online. Technology is evolving everyday and we NEED both tools to that as well as laws in place that support our efforts to keep kids safe. The existing legislation was passed before any of today’s popular social media platforms existed and desperately needs updating.
Please ensure that parents have the tools and support they need to keep our kids safe online.
Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely, [NAME]
Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/07/27/senate-child-safety-bill/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/16/kids-online-safety-act-unveiled-blackburn-blumenthal/
