When Snapchat was released in 2011, social media users everywhere flocked to the site for its ability to send quick, personalized images and videos that disappear after viewing. Today, with over 800 million active users a month, the platform still remains one of the top social media platforms in the world.
While you should only add people you know on Snapchat, your Snapchat contacts can still see a bevy of private information on your account, including your email address. If you’re a Snapchat user, it’s important to ensure you keep control over your private information and sensitive details like your email address.
If you’re wondering, “Can people see my email on Snapchat?” keep reading to learn how to adjust your privacy settings and ensure you stay safe when using the social media platform.
Understanding Snapchat’s Privacy Settings
Snapchat is meant to share fun videos and pictures with your friends — not your email address. The good news is that Snapchat, by default, keeps your email address private and only uses it to verify your account information.
But, depending on how your privacy settings are set up, people could potentially still figure out your personal information.
Can People Find Your Email on Snapchat?
There are a few ways someone could find your personal information, including your email on Snapchat.
- Public profiles: If you have a public Snapchat profile, certain details can be viewed by everyone, including mutual connections who might have your email address.
- Mutual connections: Sometimes, inadvertently, your mutual friends could share your contact information or share content that includes your email address.
- Google search: All it takes is a simple Google search with your name, Snapchat username, or other personal information. Your email address could show up if it’s associated with other public information or social media platforms.
- Third-party tools: Some third-party tools help people find email addresses associated with your social media accounts. All you need is the Snapchat username, and some search databases could potentially find your email as well.
- Account recovery process: If someone pretends to be you and tries to go through the Snapchat account recovery process, they could inadvertently reveal the email address associated with your account.
- Reaching out directly to mutual friends: Another way to find your email address is if someone reaches out directly to a mutual connection or friends to see if they have your email address.
While your email address might not be front and center for anyone to find, as you can see there are ways someone could find your email address through your Snapchat account. Make sure you’re utilizing best practices and frequently looking at your Snapchat privacy settings to keep your information away from the public.
How Do I Adjust Privacy Settings on Snapchat?
There are several different ways to adjust your privacy settings on Snapchat. These settings can dictate who contacts you, who sees your information, and how you can keep your personal information private.
To access and adjust your Snapchat privacy settings, follow these steps:
- Open Snapchat: Once your Snapchat app is open, click your profile icon in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Go to Settings: Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner to enter the settings menu.
- Who Can Contact Me: You can adjust who can contact you on Snapchat by scrolling down the Settings menu to the “Privacy Controls” section. From there, click “Contact Me” and make sure this is set to “My Friends.” This makes sure strangers or other people who aren’t added as your friends can contact you.
- Quick Add: This feature allows friends and other users to add you based on any mutual connections. But it can also open you up to accounts that you don’t actually know. To turn this off, go to “Settings” and toggle off the “See Me in Quick Add” feature.
- Who Can View My Story: If you want to ensure only your friends can view your story, make sure to adjust the “View My Story” setting to “My Friends” or “Custom” to adjust your privacy settings.
- Who Can See My Location: Snap Map allows friends to see your location whenever you have Snapchat open. Make sure your location settings are set to “Ghost Mode” under the “See My Location” settings. This makes sure your location is kept private or only shared with friends you approve.
- Email Address and Phone Number: While Snapchat only uses your email address and phone number for account verification, other users could find you by using this personal information. You can go into settings, and click the “Mobile Number/Email” setting, and uncheck “Let others find me using my email/phone number.”
By monitoring and restricting information like this on your Snapchat account, you can keep your personal information private and away from anyone who shouldn’t have access to it.
What Are the Risks of Sharing Information on Snapchat?
Sharing information on Snapchat can be risky, even if you’re only using the platform for a little fun with friends and family.
Since Snapchat has a large group of Gen Z and younger users who leverage the platform, it’s even more important that users understand the dangers that come with sharing personal information and what can happen if even something as simple as your email address gets in the wrong hands.
There are some risks that come with having a Snapchat account, including:
- Data breach: If Snapchat experiences a data breach, your personal information, like your email address, could be leaked, making you vulnerable to other unwanted emails or malicious cyber attacks.
- Identify theft: With just your email address, a cybercriminal can commit identity theft and use your personal information for fraudulent activities or crimes.
- Phishing attacks: If the wrong person gets your email address, you can be a target for phishing attempts from people trying to get even more sensitive information from you.
Tips for Maintaining Privacy on Snapchat
Just because there are risks with your email address being exposed on Snapchat doesn’t mean you have to completely avoid the platform. Similar to any other social media platform, there are some basic steps you can take to keep your private information safe and secure from anyone who shouldn’t have access to it.
Some ways to protect yourself and keep your email account private on Snapchat include:
- Avoid clicking any links: Even if they come from your friends, avoid clicking on links that come through your Snapchat messages. They could be phishing attempts!
- Only accept friend requests from people you know: One key way to keep your email safe from strangers on Snapchat is to only accept friend requests from people you personally know. This will ensure you’re only communicating with people you trust.
- Monitor your friend list: It’s a good idea to regularly review your friend list and remove anyone you potentially no longer interact with or communicate with. This ensures you have a tight-knit circle of friends on your account who you trust and regularly interact with.
- Keep your passwords updated: A best practice across any internet account is to regularly update and change your passwords. You can keep your account secure and protected by using two-factor authentication and updating your passwords regularly.
- Use strict privacy settings: Take advantage of the privacy settings Snapchat has available to users. The tighter controls you put in place, the better secured your account will be, and your personal information like your email address will be more protected.
The Bottom Line
While people can’t see your email on Snapchat, there are several ways that a bad actor or cybercriminal can track down your email address through your account. That’s why it’s important to keep a close eye on the personal information you share on social media and put in place controls over who can send you Snapchat messages or see your account information.
At Digital Forensics, our team can help you protect your personal information or advise you on the best way to keep your social media accounts safe and secure. Cybercrime is growing, and it’s important to stay vigilant and alert across all social media platforms — including Snapchat.
Even something as minor as your email address getting leaked can lead to major consequences. Contact us if you’ve been a victim of cybercrime on Snapchat. You don’t have to deal with it alone.
Sources:
Explore Top Snapchat Statistics (2024) | Analyzify
How to Market to Gen Z | Snapchat for Business
What is a Public Profile on Snapchat?
How do I change my privacy settings on Snapchat?
Internal Sources
What to do When Someone Blackmails You on Social Media?
