Snapchat’s New Family Centre Updates Give Parents More Insight Without Crossing Privacy Lines

If you’re parenting a teen or tween, chances are social media is already part of the conversation in your house, whether you’re ready for it or not. And while many parents want to stay informed, most of us also know that hovering over every message isn’t realistic, or healthy.

That’s where Snapchat’s latest Family Centre updates come in.

Snapchat has introduced new features designed to give parents a clearer picture of how their teens use the app, without granting access to private conversations. The focus is less on control and more on context.

What’s New for Parents

Through Family Centre, parents can now see the average amount of time their teen spends on Snapchat each day, based on the previous week. This time is broken down across different parts of the app, including chatting with friends, snapping, using the camera, exploring Snap Map, and watching content on Stories and Spotlight.

For parents who have ever wondered where all that screen time actually goes, this offers a more complete picture of digital habits rather than just a number on a screen-time report.

More Context Around New Friends

Family Centre already allowed parents to view their teen’s friends list and recent additions. The latest update adds more context when a new friend is added, including whether they have mutual friends, shared communities or are already saved in contacts.

This extra layer is designed to help parents understand how their teen knows the people they’re connecting with, and to spark conversations when something feels unfamiliar, rather than reacting in the moment.

Designed for Conversation, Not Surveillance

What stands out about these updates is the balance. Parents gain visibility into behaviour and patterns, but not access to private messages or snaps. It reflects a more realistic approach to parenting teens online, supporting guidance and trust rather than constant monitoring.

The goal is to help families talk about screen time, boundaries and online behaviour with more information, not more conflict.

Additional Safety Tools Available

Alongside these updates, Family Centre also allows parents to:
• View their teen’s friends list and recent contacts
• Set content restrictions
• Disable access to My AI and upcoming AI-powered search features
• Share location as a family
• Report potentially concerning accounts on their teen’s behalf

Snapchat has also released a step-by-step video to help parents and carers understand how to set up and use Family Centre, making the tools more accessible for families at different stages.

The Bigger Picture for Parents

There’s no single right way to navigate social media with kids, and every family will approach it differently. What tools like Family Centre offer is a middle ground. Enough insight to stay informed, without crossing into constant supervision.

For many parents, that balance is exactly what’s been missing.

You can learn more about Snapchat Family Centre and how to get started at parents.snapchat.com.