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Snapchat

Family Center, location sharing, contact restrictions

Last updated: March 2026

Easy~5 minutes
1

Open Snapchat's Family Center

On your phone, open Snapchat (you'll need your own Snapchat account). Tap your profile icon in the top-left corner, then tap the gear icon to open Settings. Scroll down to "Family Center" and tap it. Family Center is Snapchat's built-in parental supervision tool for teens aged 13-17.

2

Invite Your Child's Account

In Family Center, tap "Invite" and send an invitation to your child's Snapchat account. Your child will receive the invitation in their Snapchat app and must accept it. Both accounts must be verified. Once connected, you'll see a dashboard showing your child's Snapchat activity. Note: your child can see that you have this access and what you can see.

3

Review Their Friend List

Once linked through Family Center, you can view your child's friend list (the people they've added as friends). You can see who they've been communicating with in the last 7 days. You cannot see the content of their messages. Review this list regularly and ask your child about anyone you don't recognize.

4

Set Location to Ghost Mode

On your child's device, open Snapchat and go to the Map view (tap the map icon or pinch to zoom out from the camera). Tap the gear icon on the map screen. Enable "Ghost Mode." This hides your child's location from everyone on the Snap Map. Alternatively, set it to share location with "My Friends" only if you want your child visible to their friends but not the public. NEVER leave location set to "Everyone."

5

Restrict Who Can Contact Them

On your child's device, go to Settings (gear icon on profile page). Tap "Contact Me" and set it to "My Friends" (not "Everyone"). Tap "View My Story" and set it to "My Friends" or "Custom" to restrict who can see their stories. Under "See Me in Quick Add," turn this OFF to prevent your child from appearing as a suggested friend to strangers.

Pro Tips

  • •Snapchat messages disappear by default. Discuss with your child why someone might prefer disappearing messages and why that can be a warning sign.
  • •Disable Snap Map entirely or enforce Ghost Mode. Location sharing is one of the biggest safety risks on Snapchat.
  • •Check if "My AI" chatbot is enabled. Consider Snapchat's AI chatbot feature and whether you want your child interacting with it.

What This Doesn’t Cover

  • •Snapchat's Family Center lets you see who your child talks to but NOT the content of any messages. Messages disappear after viewing by default.
  • •Your child can create a second Snapchat account without your knowledge. Periodically check that the linked account is still their primary one.
  • •Family Center requires your teen's ongoing consent. If they revoke access, you will be notified, but you cannot force the connection.

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