You Don’t Know Who You’re Talking To

Snapchat Story

There’s a feature in Snapchat called Snapchat Story, which allows you to share images and videos-but they do not self-destruct. It’s also incredibly easy to accidentally post something to a Snapchat Story rather than as a direct message. While you can quickly remove it, you have to pray that nobody saw- or had the chance to save- the image or video you just posted.

If you accidentally hit that little rectangle icon with the plus in it, you are out there. You will need to move fast to take it down before someone notices it. Here’s how:

1. Select the Story you just posted – This can be accessed by swiping left from the home screen.
2. Tap the trash icon on the bottom of the screen.
3. Confirm deletion.

Unless you do actually know the person you are talking to, you have no idea who the other person is, how old they are, what they want and what they will do with your nude selfie. That person could be much older, much younger, a criminal or just generally untrustworthy.

Even if you think you’re communicating with someone you know and trust, you can never be absolutely certain it’s them in possession of their phone. Maybe they lost their phone on the bus. Maybe a roommate picked it up. You can never be totally sure.

Colleges and Employers Check Social Networks

While in theory, snaps should never appear on a social network or anywhere online, as you now know, that doesn’t mean they won’t. Having your nude pics hijacked not only makes life difficult in the here and now, it can also have ramifications further down the line. Colleges, recruiters, scouts and potential employers all check a potential candidate’s social network accounts to get an idea of their personality.

Coming of Age

Age may be relative to us, but in the eyes of the law, it is definitive. People can get into untold amounts of legal trouble sexting with a minor, even if they didn’t know the person’s age. While the issue may be resolved eventually, this is a situation no right-minded person would want to be involved in.

Unless you know or can verify the age of the person you’re talking to, you are at risk if you send them anything with potential sexual content.

Guilt

We have all done dumb things in the heat of the moment. Before the digital era, if someone made a mistake, it could be kept quiet or hopefully between those involved. But with the internet and social networks, that’s no longer true.

If the idea of sending a nude on Snapchat makes you feel a little guilty, don’t do it. Nobody is worth that.

Is It Safe to Send Nude Pics on Snapchat?

By now, you’ve figured out that it isn’t safe to send any sort of pics on Snapchat, as they can be screenshotted and recorded by the recipient. But if you still feel it’s worth the risk, just be sensible about what you post.

• Avoid full face shots if posing nude.
• Hide distinguishing marks such as tattoos.
• Be very selective about who you send them to.
• Build up a level of trust before sharing any personal information.
• Know definitively who you are talking to.
• If your gut says stop, stop.

If someone is nefariously using a screenshot against you, visit the eSafety Commission for more guidance. You may not be able to get the photo back or even taken down immediately, but filing a report at the above-listed link will certainly give you the help you need.