Advocacy groups caution families about Snapchat’s hidden dangers – InForum

Advocacy groups warn that Snapchat’s disappearing messages can encourage risky behavior, urging parents to stay involved in their kids’ social media use. Police and advocacy groups say Snapchat’s disappearing messages don’t erase risks, urging parents to monitor teens’ use of the app. Storyblocks September 23, 2025 at 10:13 PM FARGO — Several students at Davies High School are under investigation by state agents for sharing sexually explicit materials, serving as a warning to parents and students about the risks of using the social media app Snapchat. While Snapchat is known for its disappearing messages, advocacy groups and police stress that does not mean users are “off the hook” when it comes to criminal activity. Law enforcement can still access messages, even if they are deleted. Snapchat’s community guidelines prohibit using the app for illegal activity, including child sex abuse or exploitation imagery. In both North Dakota and Minnesota, it is a crime to disseminate images of people depicted in a sexual act. According to Snapchat’s website, users between 13 and 17 are private by default to help protect them from strangers. But the nonprofit Child Rescue Coalition says parents should understand the app’s format, since disappearing messages can encourage risky
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