Snapchat: The Role, Rights, and Responsibilities on Privacy

Snapchat is a top tiered social media platform. The application has millions of users posting, sharing, and capturing their lives every chance they get. Applications (apps) that capture Snaps are available for iOS and Android. These apps can save Snaps without alerting the sender of those posts. However, with great popularity come countless vulnerabilities. “Don’t be fooled into complacency” (Make Use Of, 2018). The deletion of Snaps gives users a false sense of security. Over 60 percent of articles directed towards Internet databases have negative views when speaking about Snapchat’s privacy settings (Snapchat Concerns, 2014). Due to these negative views, Snapchatters who use the app have major concerns about their privacy and security.

Role of Snapchat:

The purpose of Snapchat is to provide entertainment to society. In simplest terms, the public can share videos, images, and locations with others. This app excels at documenting events and memories that are in the moment. A quick video or picture gives users the freedom to send selected or (all) messages to their friends (Phillips, 2017). There was even a new update that allows Snapchatters to go “public” with their Snaps, making their story visible to the entire world. Snapchat is different from other social media platforms because it makes the posts disappear after a period. The user has the option to select between 1 and 10 seconds before the image is lost (Snapchat Concerns, 2014). Recently, Snapchat has added the option to have the Snap unlimited length before the viewer changes stories. Furthermore, if receiving individuals of this application take a picture of any Snaps, then that individual has the content if they wish to keep/use it.

The Rights Regarding Snapchat:

The rights of everyone who uses this app should be the first priority; however, it seems as if Snapchat has put their data collection first. The rights of the Snapchatters are being violated in many ways because the content they capture on the app is stored onto Snapchat’s servers for whatever time period they see fit. Snapchat can broadcast your location whenever you log into the app. Snapchat revealed that they have access to your information even after it has disappeared. They also informed users that they can control who has access to it (Snap Inc., 2018). Your Snap story can be sent to any Snapchatter whom you allow to see it. The problem with these settings is the fact that people are unaware of the dangers that Snapchat holds. If users aren’t educated on what to do to help their security, then they will not be able to protect their personal information.

The Opposition:

On the other hand, Snapchat feels that its service provides effective privacy and security to all users. A Snapchat representative said, “safety of our community is very important to us and we want to make sure that all Snapchatters, parents, and educators have accurate information about how Snapchat works” (ABC, 2017). Snapchat believes that their application provides enough information and safety for users. Snapchat claims that their content is secure and stored before it is removed.

Snapchat’s Responsibilities:

Recipients can save images that are posted on Snapchat. Snapchat has enabled users to have private storage access to the app so you can find old photos from your phone on your computer (Burnham, 0214). Even though Snapchat promises to delete pictures after they are sent, Snapchat services require them to collect images and personal information for analysis (Snapchat, 2014). According to the complaint, there are a number of apps out right now that people can download to save pictures and videos without your knowledge. More than 1.7 million people have used or downloaded these types of applications (Burnham, 2014).

An issue with Snapchat is users’ locations are being transmitted whenever they use the app. Snap Map was introduced not too long ago and people are still trying to understand its purpose. People who habitually open Snapchat everyday are at risk the most (Baral, 2017). Snapchat adds that they are able to collect information regarding user’s past locations. Using cell towers, GPS, and Wi-Fi points to find where your phone is at certain parts throughout the day (Snap Inc., 2018). Snapchat’s privacy policy says it does not ask for permission to track the location of users’ phones because it already has the permission when they sign up for Snapchat (Burnham, 2014). Tech expert Charles Tendell told ABC News, “giving strangers and acquaintances access to your location can be a dangerous game” (Baral, 2017).

Snapchat has the power to collect information from your address book. They say that they are allowed to use other peoples’ information about you to determine personal factors related to your friend groups. They can link people near you, your contacts, and even the person next to you (that you) don’t know (Snap Inc., 2018). Snapchat’s privacy policy claims that the app collected only your email, phone number and your Facebook ID to find your friends. If you have an iPhone, then Snapchat takes all your contacts from your phone and uses them to search friends for you without you knowing they could do that (Burnham, 2014).

Users may have thought their personal information was secure when using the app, but it was violated as soon as they logged into Snapchat. They require the basic knowledge for an account, but sometimes go beyond what is needed by asking a few more vital details. Asking for pictures, name, and user identities are public to the Snapchat community. “Other services, such as commercial products, may also require you to provide us with a debit or credit card number and its associated account information” (Snap Inc., 2018). Another issue with Snapchat is when people don’t verify their phone number. People who send images and videos to someone with the same number may communicate randomly with the wrong person. Those messages that were sent to strangers, had no idea that they were someone else until they received a message back. The strangers had their friends phone number that did not belong to them, making it awkward for the sender who had no idea (Burnham, 2014).

Finally, users always have the option to delete their Snapchat accounts to help protect their privacy. Snapchat would say that their systems are designed to carry out an easy protocol for deletion practices. In fact, it is more complicated than just clicking on the “X” above the application. After a deletion has been taken place, Snapchat has all rights and authority to use, see, or share your information how they see fit (Snap Inc., 2018). The steps to deleting the app take some time and patience to remove. Consider the fact that by deleting the app from your phone does not delete the account you have made with Snapchat (Burnham, 2014). For full removal, make sure to delete your account from the servers so your information cannot be shared with anyone else in the future.

Solution That is More Ethical:

To protect the lives of those who use social media platforms like Snapchat, they should implement a tutorial that makes people fully understand the application before using it. A new assessment should be introduced to users about all the privacy settings at the beginning. This prolog will include questions that will be interactive and allow the users to understand Snapchat and its functionalities better. Not all users of Snapchat are aware that their personal information is being shared without their permission. In fact, their exact location could be broadcasted if “ghost mode” is not turned on. Where is the line drawn when it comes to privacy? Federal Trade Commission chairwoman Edith Ramirez stated, “If a company markets privacy and security as key selling points in pitching its service to consumers, it is critical that it keep those promises.” In the end, Snapchat had to pay off charges for deception and false advertising (Snapchat, 2014). Therefore, Snapchat should create an online interactive step-by-step tutorial that shows users which privacy settings protect their identities.

Snapchat already provides the terms and conditions section when making an account, but what if instead of clicking the bottom that says I agree; people had to perform an interaction informational tutorial that showed users how to limit their errors online with Snapchat. This tutorial would help them understand that pictures and videos sent out can be screenshotted, their location can be transmitted, people can access their address book, people can find you from wherever you are, and how to delete the account permanently instead of closing the app.

To set up this tutorial up as a reality, both Snapchat and the government would have to approve this with support from the Snapchat community. There could be some backlash regarding time with the users; however, it will help Snapchat’s battle with the legal system. The government will back up any notion that suggests more protection and privacy for anyone. As online users, they need to be well educated on how to use Snapchat to its entire potential, which includes knowing which settings to use and how to protect their privacy.

Some benefits of this solution are security, privacy, and protecting personal identities. This solution can help Snapchat gain their brand and more trust from their users. It will help the public’s opinion of their core values and what they advertise. The overall scope of this solution is to protect the rights of the people when they feel the need to express their experiences. Of course, Snapchat has their own terms and conditions; however, those are not interactive and incredibly complex. Most people either click right past them or don’t even think twice before continuing. Unfortunately, Snapchat takes advantage of those who skip the terms or do not have the patience to fully read the specifics.

The solution is doable because it only takes a few minutes from users to brush up on their knowledge about the application already. For those who already know everything about Snapchat than it will be a breeze for them. For new members, it will be extremely helpful to know that your security and privacy is a major concern for the developers.

Final Remarks

This proposal benefits all parties involved by admitting the problems Snapchat and its users suffer from day-to-day. The tutorial mentioned will educate users about the app, protect their privacy, and help make the most of their social interaction. This type of tutorial could not only benefit Snapchat but other social media apps where privacy concerns are a red flag.  It makes the terms and conditions for Snapchat open and honest, thus, backing up their claims about digression and content will disappear. Therefore, Snapchat should implement this interactive tutorial in their next update for not only their customers’ benefit but also theirs. By setting up this tutorial, everyone will be given the chance to equally practice their roles, rights, and fulfill personal responsibilities on Snapchat. Users’ will take control of their online identities and know that they are safe while using Snapchat. Take a Snap of that!

 

 

References

ABC News. (2017, June 26). Snapchat’s New Snap Map Feature Raises Privacy Concerns. Retrieved from ABC: https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/snapchats-snap-map-feature-raises-privacy-concerns/story?id=48271889

Baral, S. (2017, June 27). Snapchat Raises Privacy Concerns: Here’s how to turn off your location. Retrieved from Mic: https://mic.com/articles/180938/snapchat-maps-raise-privacy-concerns-heres-how-to-turn-off-your-location#.v8hJNLJoZ

Burnham, K. (2014, May 9). 5 Ways Snapchat Violated Your Privacy, Security. Retrieved from Information Week: https://www.informationweek.com/software/social/5-ways-snapchat-violated-your-privacy-security/d/d-id/1251175

Phillips, G. (2017, May 15). 8 Tips to Keep Your Snapchat Secure . Retrieved from MUO: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/security-tips-snapchat/

Snap Inc. (2018, May 15). Privacy Policy. Retrieved from Snap.com: https://www.snap.com/en-US/privacy/privacy-policy/

Word Press. (2014, December 1). Snapchat: Revolutionizing Communication. Retrieved from Snapchat Privacy Concerns: https://snapchatandprivacy.wordpress.com/