Snapchat is a great app for those who enjoy sending messages, pictures, and videos to their friends. Its simple user interface and great photo editing features make it a fun app to use.
However, there are some things you should avoid doing on Snapchat in order to stay safe. Most of these actions violate the Terms of Service, but some just seem to be common sense and good manners.
Here, we explore Snapchat’s terms and conditions and where it draws the line for actions that could get you banned on the platform.
1. Using Unauthorized Third-Party Apps to Access Snapchat
With Snapchat being the social media platform of choice for many, it is no surprise that third-party apps have become increasingly popular in recent years.
But while these third-party apps may be useful in some cases, they are not safe to use if you want to keep your Snapchat account from getting banned.
Unauthorized third-party apps are a big no-no when it comes to accessing Snapchat, and they could get your account banned. Snapchat will temporarily lock your account for 24 hours at the first instance, but repeated use of unauthorized third-party apps can get you permanently blocked from Snapchat.
According to Snapchat Support, some unauthorized third-party apps include:
- SCOthman
- Emulator
- Phantom
- Snapchat++
- Sneakaboo
- SnapTools
2. Sending Explicit Snaps or Messages
If you’ve ever considered sending a sexually explicit Snap or message, you may want to think twice before doing so. Sharing content of this kind is enough grounds to get your Snapchat account locked forever.
Snapchat prohibits accounts that promote or distribute pornographic content. Asking anyone under the age of 18 to send explicit imagery or chats is a worse offense. Aside from risking a permanent ban, Snapchat will also report you to relevant authorities. Snapchat warned in its Community Guidelines:
“We report child sexual exploitation to authorities. Never post, save, or send nude or sexually explicit content involving anyone under the age of 18—even of yourself. Never ask a minor to send explicit imagery or chats.”
Sharing sexually explicit content can also get you banned from Facebook and other social networks.
3. Using Snapchat for Illegal Activities
Snapchat prohibits the use of its platform for any form of illegal activity. Furthermore, sharing content that promotes criminal activities or the use of regulated goods can also get your account banned.
Like with every other violation, Snapchat temporarily locks the account for “an extended period of time” if it’s your first offense.
However, continual sharing of content that promotes illegal activities ends in getting your account blocked permanently.
4. Sending Spam
Yes, that’s right—sending spam and unsolicited messages can get you locked out of your Snapchat account. This is because spamming is actually a form of harassment, which Snapchat doesn’t tolerate.
Adding too many friends when you’re yet to verify your email address and phone number can equally earn you a ban from Snapchat.
5. Hate Speech & False Information
Another cardinal rule of the social media platform is that you should not use Snapchat to spread hate speech or falsify information.
Sharing content that demeans, defames or promotes discrimination or violence on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, and so on, can earn you a ban on Snapchat.
Similarly, using Snapchat to spread malicious deception and other false information that causes harm can also get you banned from the social network. So, it’s worth fact-checking if you plan on sharing any kind of news and whatnot.
6. Impersonation
Using a fake account in someone else’s name can land you on the wrong side of Snapchat. Impersonating someone else is a violation of Snapchat’s guidelines, and it can result in getting your account blocked permanently.
“Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not—this includes your friends, celebrities, brands, or other organizations—or attempt to deceive people about who you are.”
7. Sharing Any Content That Can Get You Reported
This is the unspoken rule. Snapchat, like other social media platforms, thrives on popularity. Sharing content that several people find offensive is another surefire way to get booted off the platform.
However, that doesn’t mean that a couple of bullies can report your account, and it then gets deleted. Snapchat evaluates reported profiles and content to confirm whether the request is valid or not.
Some other actions that can earn you a ban on Snapchat are bullying, threatening other users, violence, and harm.
If you want to read these documents in their entirety or find more guidelines for other concerns, the best place to go is Snapchat’s Community Guidelines—which we linked to earlier in this article.
What Happens When You Get Banned on Snapchat?
Snapchat has three categories of bans on its platform. Violating any of the terms stated above, for the first time, will most likely lead to your account getting locked for 24 hours.
However, repeated violations can get your account locked for up to a month or result in a permanent ban from the platform.
Can You Unlock a Permanently Banned Snapchat Account?
In one word: No. However, if you feel your account was banned wrongfully, you can reach out to Snapchat’s support team and find out why your account is locked and whether the ban is permanent.
You’ll also be blocked from opening another account with the same email address you used to create the banned account.
So, there you have it—now you’ve got a good starting idea of how you can get yourself banned on Snapchat. As long as you don’t cross these lines, and you apply common sense when using the app, your account should be safe from getting banned.
Understanding the community guidelines and terms of service of a platform can prevent you from ending up with a locked or permanently removed account. Having read this guide, you should have a good starting point for ensuring that you avoid receiving a ban on Snapchat.
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