Snapchat is one of the most well-known messaging apps. However, is this app secure to use?
Some may find it surprising but Snapchat is also known to collect a lot of data from users. This includes:
- Identifying information: Your name, email address, birth date, and phone number
- Snaps that you send: Snaps may self-destruct, but Snapchat stores them for varying lengths of time
- Usage and user information: How often you send snaps, who you send them to, what device you’re using, your mobile carrier, and even location information
- Data from friends: Snapchat collects information from users’ contact lists and saves that data, even if you aren’t using the app
Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the amount of information Snapchat collects about you by turning off location tracking, enabling Ghost Mode, or using a VPN.
We recommend NordVPN as it is the best VPN for privacy. It offers a host of features designed to prevent apps from tracking your location or snooping on your data.
Below, you’ll find step-by-step instructions to protect your confidential Snapchat data, plus more information about how your data is used.
Curious about what data Snapchat collects about its users? Like most social media apps, Snapchat is a service provider that is quite heavy-handed with data collection. And if you aren’t accessing the application through a VPN (Virtual Private Network), you could be sharing more than you think.
Below, we’ve clearly laid out what data Snapchat collects in the app, in addition to useful tips for minimizing your exposure. Take a moment to follow our advice and protect your privacy when using Snapchat.
What Data Does Snapchat Collect in the App?
Some of the basic account information that the Snapchat app collects about you is pretty standard – like your name, email address, and mobile number. But how they use the data may surprise you. What’s more, your Snapchat account collects data that you may not expect.
Here’s a quick overview:
| Data type | Data | When it’s collected |
|---|---|---|
| Personally identifiable information | First name and last name | When you sign up |
| Personally identifiable information | Birthday | When you sign up |
| Personally identifiable information | Email address | When you sign up |
| Personally identifiable information | Mobile number | When you sign up |
| Messaging activity | Snaps that you send to others | While you’re using the app |
| Messaging activity | How often you open the app | While you’re using the app |
| Messaging activity | Which contacts you send Snaps to | While you’re using the app |
| Messaging activity | How often you communicate with each contact | While you’re using the app |
| Device information | Device type and operating system version | While you’re using the app |
| Device information | Unique device identifiers (IMEI number) | While you’re using the app |
| Device information | Which apps you have installed on your device | While you’re using the app |
| Device information | Mobile carrier or network provider | While you’re using the app |
| Device information | Phone book | While you’re using the app (with permission) |
| Device information | Location | IP address, GPS, wireless network information, cell tower triangulation, gyroscopes, accelerometers, and compasses |
| Device information | Websites that you visit | Snapchat may gather data about the website you were using before navigating to or away from the Snapchat website. |
All the information in the table above may make many of us wonder: Is Snapchat safe? Our biggest concern here was the collection of precise location data. Even if you enable Ghost Mode, the app can still pinpoint your location using GPS, cell tower triangulation, and Wi-Fi network tracking.
You can immediately put a stop to location tracking by downloading a VPN, which will change your IP address and hide your location. Take back your privacy and stop apps from tracking you with NordVPN.
Check out the sections below to understand how and why Snapchat gathers this data from you.
1. Personally identifiable information
Sign up for any service, and you’ll be asked for personal information to create an account. Snapchat is no exception. To use the app, you’ll need to give the company some basic info, including:
- Your first and last name
- Your birthday
- Your email address
- Your mobile number (to validate your account)
Disclosure is the price you pay to use your favorite apps. In most cases, sharing this information with a third-party app or official company is relatively harmless – but not always. If that data falls into the hands of hackers, for example, it can be combined with information from other sources to reveal more about you.
Pro Tip:
Snapchat has been hit by a number of data breaches in the past. If hackers get hold of your email address or other personal data, they could use it to try and break into your other accounts. Improve your privacy by using a throwaway email address that’s tied to nothing but your Snapchat account.
2. Messaging activity on the app
Even though Snapchat self-destructs messages, it doesn’t mean that data is gone forever. All the snaps you and your friends send each other are processed by the company and saved. The retention period depends on whether they were viewed.
| Snap Type | Retention Period (opened) | Retention Period (unopened) |
|---|---|---|
| One-to-one Snaps | Immediately deleted | 31 days |
| Group Snaps | Immediately deleted | Seven days |
| Snaps sent to your Story | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| Snaps send to Memories | Indefinite, unless you delete them | Indefinite, unless you delete them |
These timeframes come straight from Snapchat support. But bear in mind you’re at the mercy of good human nature too. In 2019, it was revealed that some Snapchat employees used the app to spy on users.
What’s more, people you send Snaps to could screenshot them, saving them offline. So, be careful what you send and to whom – and consider whether Snapchat is safe for your kids, too.
Aside from your Snaps themselves, Snapchat also gathers a range of usage data listed in the table. This includes how often you use the app, how often you communicate and with whom, and more. This data is presumably used for internal analytics and reporting on user interactions.
3. Device information
This is perhaps the most vague and worrying section. Snapchat is a service provider that collects a range of device data, including what kind of phone you have and its operating system. It even tracks the mobile carrier providing your cell service.
But there’s more. Our main concerns around Snapchat’s gathering of device data are summarized below:
- Snapchat gathers data about your location, whether you have location tracking turned on or off.
- The app doesn’t say why it might gather microphone data. Presumably, it’s for recording Snaps, but it’s left open to interpretation.
- Snapchat monitors whether your device is in motion and in what direction.
- Using nearby cell towers and Wi-Fi networks, Snapchat can narrow down your location with reasonable accuracy.
Hide your location:
Location tracking gives way to potential crime, allowing criminals to stalk their victims in person. Stop broadcasting where you are by downloading a VPN like NordVPN to hide your true location and give yourself peace of mind.
My AI Feature Could Pose a Risk to Privacy
Like most companies, Snapchat has begun integrating with AI (Artificial Intelligence). AI solutions like Google AI, for example, are still in their infancy, and caution should be taken with them. Snapchat’s AI, “My AI,” uses your location data, and our experience has been worrisome.
Take the below example – even My AI doesn’t seem to understand when and how it can access your location. The feature told us that it has access to this data, even if Ghost Mode is enabled. Two seconds later, it claimed the opposite:
Users across the internet have also experienced issues with My AI and privacy. In April 2023, Snapchatters across social media questioned the app’s privacy after the artificial intelligence made similar errors. After telling them their correct location, the tool would then deny having access to location data.
Unfortunately, there’s currently no way to delete or opt out of My AI as a feature. But you should be wary about sharing information with such features, which often lean heavily on acquired and ingested data to learn.
What Information Does Snapchat Collect About Me From Other Sources?
Snapchat may collect information about you, such as your phone number or your email address, from other sources like third-party apps, for example. Your activity within the app gives Snapchat a wealth of information about you, but they also rely on other third parties to collect even more of your personal data – sometimes, even if you don’t use the app.
Advertisers hoover up your data
Snapchat collects information from advertisers and other business partners to build a more complete profile of your interests. When you share information with a Snapchat advertising partner, the company combines that data with what it already knows.
If you install third-party apps or games from a company that advertises on Snapchat, the company will know about it. This helps them determine if Snapchat showed you an ad for the product. This feedback makes advertising with Snapchat more valuable.
Anytime you interact with an advertiser on Snapchat, the company is informed, allowing them to better target their ads. This also helps Snapchat improve its advertising success rates. This makes it easier for other businesses to calculate the expected return for their ad dollars.
Your friends can give your data away
Here’s one that might surprise – or even alarm – you. If a friend allows Snapchat access to their contact list and you’re one of their saved contacts, Snapchat collects information about you, even if you don’t use Snapchat. The shared information may include your name, email address, and phone number. Everything goes into the Snapchat database.
How Does Snapchat Use My Private Information?
One of the main uses of your private information is to provide better targeting for advertisers. Companies like Snapchat try to rephrase this purely as a benefit to you. Language such as “provide you with an amazing set of products and services” is used to persuade you.
However, the more personalized your profile is, the more advertisers are willing to pay Snapchat for your data. Snapchat makes more money, and you start seeing scarily relevant advertisements. This is only possible because your private data was shared with paying advertisers.
Likewise, anytime you interact with an advertiser on Snapchat, the advertiser is told about it. This lets them better target their ads. Snapchat also benefits again because it can collect information that helps the app improve analytics on advertising performance. Snapchat uses this information to attract additional advertisers because they can demonstrate higher returns on ad dollars.
The worst part about all this? You automatically allow Snapchat to do this when you sign up to use the app — or any app, actually. So f you want to sign to an app, ensure you are always aware of the privacy risks in user agreements and what you’re agreeing to. Fortunately, you don’t have to go nuclear and delete data or your Snapchat account to avoid this. Let’s talk about how to protect your privacy while still using Snapchat.
How Can I See the Data Snapchat Has About Me?
When you want to find out what data Snapchat has on you, downloading your data is an easy way to get an aggregated list. Follow our brief guide below to get the answers you need.
Download your Snapchat data file
- Open your Snapchat app.
- Tap your bitmoji (upper left corner of the screen).
- Tap “Settings” (gear icon in the upper right corner of the screen).
- Scroll down and tap “My Data” under “Privacy Controls.”
- Log in to Snapchat with your username and password.
- Scroll down and tap “Submit Request.”
- You’ll receive a confirmation message telling you Snapchat will let you know once the file is ready.
Unzip and review your Snapchat data file
Once your data file is ready, you’ll receive an email from Snapchat.
- Open the email and follow the “Click Here” link.
- Log in to Snapchat with your username and password when prompted.
- You will be redirected to a “Manage My Account” screen.
- Tap “My Data.”
- Download the .zip file.
When you unpack and open the .zip file, you’ll find all your Snapchat data available for review.
How Snapchat Uses Location Tracking
With location tracking, Snapchat may find out where you live or even where you work. Since its release in 2017, the Snap Map feature has been a source of fraud or security concerns for privacy experts. While it seems like a fun way to share your location with friends (Actionmojis, anyone?), broadcasting your real-time position could turn cyber threats into real ones.
Yet Snapchat avoids the usual language like “improving site performance and for advertising” or “monitoring our site performance” when prompting you to turn on location tracking. Instead, they just tell you your Snapchat experience will be better.
However, they still want the info for the same reason all other free apps want it: because location data is one of the types of big data that is very valuable to advertisers.
Important:
Companies want your location data. To them, it’s an industry worth an estimated $12 billion. To you, it’s the pinnacle of privacy. Download NordVPN to take back control of your privacy.
You may not consent to giving Snapchat your home address or the name of your employer. But with location tracking turned on, that information is readily available to Snapchat and its advertisers.
With location tracking turned on, Snapchat and its partners can make educated guesses about:
- Your neighborhood’s affluence level: Based on your location data Snapchat can figure out if you live in a wealthy area.
- Your income: At many workplaces, the boss parks closer to the door than an entry-level employee. By tracking how long you walk after parking at work, Snapchat could guess your position in a company, giving advertisers insight into your likely annual income.
- New advertising opportunities: Walk into a golf shop, and Snapchat thinks you’re in the market for new clubs. Now you’re likely to start seeing ads for golf equipment in the app.
- Sensitive health information: Visit a specialist doctor, and Snapchat could start guessing what kind of health issues you might have. You could start seeing related adverts.
Can I Protect My Privacy and Still Use Snapchat?
You can still take a few simple steps to safeguard your Snapchat account privacy and block location tracking while still enjoying your favorite app. That is, of course, if you have not decided to delete Snapchat entirely.
1. Opt out of location tracking on Snapchat
When you first set up your Snapchat account, you will see the following screen. Tap “Skip” to avoid being tracked within the app.
If you didn’t opt out of location tracking when you first set up your Snapchat account, it’s easy to do so at any time:
- For iOS users, go to Settings > Snapchat > Location, then check “Never.”
- For Android users, go to Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Permissions, then disable the slider next to “Location.”
Opting out makes it harder for the app to track your movements. While it won’t eliminate location information collection altogether, it does make the data collected far more generic. Snapchat has to work harder for less valuable data, giving you a small win when it comes to privacy.
2. Update your Snapchat privacy settings
First, take a few minutes to walk through the Snapchat privacy settings. These allow you to take some control over your information. You can restrict data that is collected through the app and how Snapchat will use it, including third-party data collection by advertisers.
Turn Ghost Mode on to further limit the location data available in the app. Keep in mind that even if you choose not to share your location with other Snapchat users, the app can still determine your location unless you disable Location Tracking.
3. Download a suitable VPN
Using a VPN is one of the easiest ways to safeguard your privacy while online. A VPN cloaks your IP address to mimic your chosen VPN server’s IP. When you access the internet, your activities online become anonymous. Your searches cannot be traced back to your actual IP address.
But best of all, any websites or apps accessing your location data will see your VPN server’s location. There are plenty of other advantages to a VPN, but this is the most crucial aspect for you regarding Snapchat privacy. Our best VPN right now is NordVPN.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
Conclusion: Protect Your Data With a VPN
Snapchat collects a lot of data. Some of this data is needed to get the app to work or to determine if a user has violated Snapchat’s community guidelines. However, given Snap Inc’s history of data breaches, in addition to internal snooping uncovered in 2019, it’s imperative to protect yourself. We recommend using NordVPN as a bare minimum to cloak your location data and stop your precise location from being tracked.
Moreover, you can preserve your privacy as much as possible by adjusting your Snapchat privacy settings, turning off location tracking, and using a VPN whenever you go online.
All the apps you use – especially the free ones – want your data. It’s up to you to take steps to keep it from them.
If you want to know more about what different service providers know about you, have a look at the articles below:
Didn’t find what you were looking for in the article? Check out the most often asked questions we get about Snapchat accounts and privacy.
To turn off Snapchat location tracking go to your phone’s settings:
- On iPhone: Go to Settings > Snapchat > Location, then check the “Never” option.
- On Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Permissions, then disable the slider next to “Location.”
However, the safest way to block location tracking is by downloading a virtual private network like NordVPN. Our NordVPN review explains everything you need to know.
To turn on Ghost Mode:
- Open the Snapchat app.
- Tap on “Settings” (the cog in the upper right corner).
- Scroll down to “Privacy Controls” and tap “See My Location.”
- Switch on the toggle for “Ghost Mode.”
To find out what information Snapchat has saved and what Snapchat knows about you, you can download your entire Snapchat data file with a few clicks:
- Open your Snapchat app.
- Tap your bitmoji (upper left corner of screen)
- Tap “Settings” (gear icon – upper right corner of screen).
- Scroll down and tap “My Data.”
- Log in to Snapchat with your Username and Password.
- Scroll down and tap “Submit Request.”
- You’ll receive a confirmation message.
When your data file is ready, you’ll get an email from Snapchat with instructions on how to download the .zip file with all the information the app has stored about you.
