Snapchat tries to shed 'sexting' image as it tells children to keep their clothes on

Company has launched a safety centre to calm parents’ and teachers’ worries

Snapchat (Getty)

Snapchat has launched a safety centre for parents and children, hoping to shed its image a “sexting” app.

The app came to prominence with a reputation for allowing safer sexting – with nude pictures and other images disappearing after a certain time set by the user. But the company has since been making plays to become a more rounded media company, most recently launching Discover to help media companies send out updates.

The safety center has been built in response to worries from parents and teachers, and was developed with online safety groups including the UK Safer Internet Center.

It includes advice for parents and teachers including not allowing children under 13 to use the app and a reminder that

“Though there's nothing inherently dangerous about Snapchat, early news coverage fairly predictably associated disappearing photos sent on phones with ‘sexting’,” the guide for parents says. “But most people – including most teens – don’t use Snapchat that way. They use it because it’s fun.”

It also reminds users to know Snapchat’s community guidelines, which begin with a reminder that “if you’re under 18 or are Snapping with someone who might be: keep your clothes on”.