A friend has suggested I get Snapchat so he can send me videos of his cat.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

Yes, that would be completely correct.

Anyway, is there anything at all hinky about Snapchat? Can I feel free and safe just to download it and start using it?

[PoliWrangler]

1. Speaking as parent to 3 teens, it's

pretty popular but have noticed it eats up data on your mobile plan pretty fast. Not a problem if connected to wifi, of course.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. I was thinking of putting it on my computer.

I am just not a fan of doing a lot of internet stuff on the phone.

[MontanaMama]

2. As they say...all the kids use it...

Mainly because anything they post disappears...no “paper trail” of evidence.

ETA: That and, the app keeps track of their friends are at any given moment. It shows all of their little avatars on a map.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Hmmm.

I've already texted back to the said friend that he might just email me videos.

[MontanaMama]

5. That would be my gut instinct too.

I don’t let him keep his phone in his bedroom overnight...I get up well before he does and when I’m in the kitchen making coffee and feeding animals, I can hear his phone buzzing like a wasp nest with Snapchat alerts. It would make me crazy and I know it would be a distraction for him at night.

[Miguelito Loveless]

6. Always remember, and don't ever forget

Free apps are worth what you pay for them. If there is no price for the product, YOU are the product.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. Yeah, that is true.

I'm beginning to think I won't bother. It definitely won't go on my phone.

[Miguelito Loveless]

10. If you do, use a VPN, disposable email address, and

Private mode browser window.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. Which is more trouble than I'm willing to go to.

But again, I do appreciate all the advice and comments here.

Even though I've been using computers for just over 50 years now, starting when I was an airline ticket agent at DCA, lo these many years ago, I am at this point not a very sophisticated user, and there are things I just don't want to be bothered with.

[CloudWatcher]

8. Yeah ..... no.

I'm pretty sure that Snapchat isn't available for macOS or Windows, just Android and iOS . So unless your "computer" is a tablet, you'd be using your phone.

That said, I had it on my phone for a several years and it was easy enough to ignore the garbage. It took me a while to figure out how to "save" content ... it was originally designed for once-and-done texts and video snippets.

It's been a while now, but it seemed way more innocuous than Facebook. E.g. paid content was pretty obvious and easily avoided.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. Their website does make it look as if I can dowload it to my computer.

I really, really don't like using my cell phone for anything other than phone calls and texts.

I really appreciate the advice, and right now I'm not inclined to download it.