Snapchat – some legal aspects
SANDTON – What are the legal terms and conditions of using Snapchat and how does the application protect users?
Snapchat, like many other smartphone applications, has become an extremely popular form of communication among school pupils.
This application allows users to send pictures, videos and messages, and offers a very nifty feature. This feature allows users to choose how long the receiver of the image or video can view this particular graphic. For example, a Snapchat user can send an image and then only allow the receiver to view the image for two seconds.
Can one assume that this image will then disappear into thin air? According to attorney Tyrone Walker, the answer is no.
He stressed that users must remember that phones offer a ‘screen grabbing’ feature whereby anything that appears on a cellphone screen can be copied very quickly. However, he added that applications, such as Snapchat have strong legal teams to deal with any mishaps that may occur while using the application, such as a minor sending an explicit, pornographic image.
“Snapchat, like all social media platforms, has a ‘legal section’ on their website or application which includes terms and conditions, usage policies and community guidelines. These describe, basically, what you can and can’t do with the social media platform or application.”
Walker highlighted, ”The application specifically deals with pornography, nudity or sexually suggestive content including minors, invasion of privacy, threats, harassment and bullying in their community guidelines.”
He added that Snapchat monitors content and will remove any content they feel will violate or contravene any of the aforementioned legal sections. ”However, it is for the user of the website or social media application to control their social media content.”
What happens if you put something on Snapchat that you want removed, or you see something on social media which you feel is illegal or violates one of the legal sections? ”Firstly, try to delete the picture or content from your user profile. If this doesn’t work, visit the legal or support link section on the website, it is normally at the bottom left or right of the website. Read through the legal and support section and click on ‘I need help’ on the Snapchat application. In this section, you can report your concern and it will be dealt with swiftly by the legal team of Snapchat.”
Walker encourages all social media users to familiarise themselves with the legal and safety features offered by various applications.
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