Yes, there’s some mature content, but it’s appropriate for most teens 16 and up. That said, there are three key risky areas:
The myth of disappearing messages. Any app can be misused, but a lot of kids mistakenly believe that Snapchat has a built-in Get Out of Jail Free card. Teens really need to understand that the content they share can be saved and shared and may never go away. It’s best to have this conversation before they download Snapchat, but it’s never too late. Kids should also ask permission before sharing a picture of someone else.
The time suck. Snapchat is a ton of fun to use, and there’s lots to discover on it. Snapstreaks and stories add a time-pressure element that makes kids feel like they have to check in. If it ever seems like your kid is stressing and not using the app for fun, it’s time to step in.
Talk about whether any of their friends have ever pressured them to send a sexy image and discuss why someone who would do that does not have your best interests at heart
Privacy and safety. Since it’s so easy to add friends in Snapchat, you can end up with lots of people you don’t know well on your friends list. And depending on your settings, the app can collect a ton of data about your habits in-and outside of-the app. Snapchat also works with a lot of third parties that they share your data with.
The biggest challenge for parents is that there’s no way to see your kid’s activity in the app in the same way as on other social media platforms. Since there’s no feed to scroll, there’s not much to monitor. Instead, focus on the privacy settings. If you decide to say yes to Snapchat, sit down with your kid and together go into the app’s settings (the little gear icon next to your profile image). Scroll down to “Who Can . ” This is where you can control important safety features such as who can see your location and who can view your story. This is a perfect time to talk to your kid about using their Snapchat account safely and responsibly. Discuss when and how often you’ll check in on how they’re using it and how they’re feeling about it. Explain that you understand that social media is important to them, and, at the same time, your role is to protect them. Don’t forget to ask your teen to show you some of their snaps and some of the cool features they like in the app. That’ll make it a little less scary for you-and send the message that you’re on the same team.
Most kids use Snapchat to goof around and stay in contact with their friends-end of story
With a Snapstreaks, two users have snapped back and forth within a 24-hour period for three days in a row. Once you’ve established a streak, special emojis and statistics display next to the streakers’ names to show you how long you’ve maintained a streak. Why do they matter? For one thing, they add to your overall Snapchat score (basically a number that reflects how much you use the app). For another, they can occasionally become the most important thing in a kid’s life. Because of the intense bonds kids can form over social media, they can feel a Snapstreak is a measure of their friendship, and if they don’t keep it up they’ll let the other person down. Teens have even been known to give friends access to their Snapchat accounts to keep a streak going if they can’t do it themselves (for example, if their phone gets taken away for being online too much). This can lead to feelings of pressure, anxiety and compulsion, so it’s good to know if your kid has streaks going to get a window into why that selfie might feel really important.
Geo-filters: These are location-specific elements that can only be unlocked by visiting a specific place. Businesses use geo-filters as a way for customers to check in and advertise them. A kid could create a special geo-filter for their sweet-16 party for attendees to add to their photos 
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