We write as concerned parents, friends, and guardians. My niece has been susceptible to harmful influences and grooming on Snapchat due to its present minimum age requirement of 12.

An unsafe reality has unfolded before our eyes as we've seen our beloved young ones drawn into situations they are ill-equipped to handle and are most vulnerable. 

We believe that increasing the minimum age requirement to 18 years would create a safer environment. 

UNICEF reports that one in three internet users worldwide is a child, and young people are now the most connected of all age groups. From a privacy perspective, children are at a greater risk since they are often unaware of the potential implications of their online activities. We believe that by allowing children as young as 12 to use this social platform, Snapchat may inadvertently aid those with malicious intents in finding potential targets.

The intent here is not to stifle social interactions but rather to prioritize the safety of our impressionable young ones. It is incumbent on platforms like Snapchat to ensure that their social spaces are appropriately protective of all users but most especially the vulnerable ones.

To achieve this, we ask Snapchat to make a simple but crucial change: increase the minimum age requirement for usage to 18 years old. Sign this petition and join us in protecting our children from the dangers that lurk on social media platforms.

especially with children with additional needs such as ADHD and ASD where a child of 13 would most likely have the brain/metal age of around 7 years old.