As a consultant who assists small business owners with social media best practices, I often stress the importance of keeping accounts secure. Snapchat in particular presents a unique security challenge. With over 90% of Snapchat‘s daily active users under the age of 35, it‘s a platform dominated by a young demographic. However, an estimated 7-10% of Snapchat‘s monthly users are small business owners and entrepreneurs leveraging features like photo filters and Stories to boost brand awareness and engagement.
For these business owners seeking to maintain a professional presence on Snapchat while keeping their account secure, learning how to change your Snapchat password is a must.
Why Should Small Business Owners Change Snapchat Passwords?
Like with any social platform, frequent password changes are crucial for account security. As a consultant focused on assisting small business owners with social media, I generally recommend updating Snapchat passwords every 60-90 days.
Here are some of the top reasons small businesses should periodically change their Snapchat password:
- Employee turnover: When employees with account access leave the company, changing credentials prevents unauthorized access. Over 6 million small businesses in the US have between 1-500 employees.
- Hacking threats: Most hacking related data breaches originate from compromised passwords. Weak Snapchat passwords make businesses vulnerable.
- Lost or stolen devices: If a device containing Snapchat login credentials is lost, stolen or hacked, users with access can damage brand reputation via posts.
Simply put, just like changing the locks if office keys are lost, changing Snapchat passwords helps secure all account access.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Change Your Snapchat Password
Many small business owners find social media apps like Snapchat intuitive. However, for those used to more straightforward business software, the process of updating a Snapchat password may feel confusing.
Here is a simple, step-by-step walkthrough on how to change your Snapchat password:
- Open the Snapchat app and tap your bitmoji or profile icon in the top left corner
- Tap the gear icon in the top right to access your account Settings
- Scroll down and select Password under the My Account section
- Input your current password when prompted
- Type a new, unique password using a mix of letters, numbers and special characters
- Confirm the password by typing it again in the last field
- Tap Save to update your credentials
That‘s all it takes – just about a minute! Snapchat will automatically log you out across all devices after changing passwords, so you simply need to enter the new one next time you login.
What Makes a Strong Snapchat Password?
When choosing a new Snapchat password, keep these password security tips in mind:
- Minimum 8 characters – longer is better to prevent guessing
- Mix of letters, numbers and symbols – this complexity foils most hacking software
- Completely unique – using different passwords across all accounts limits risk
- No names, dates or dictionary words – this info is easiest for hackers to uncover
- Can‘t easily guess – obscure pop culture references only you understand are good inspiration
Using these criteria makes it extremely difficult for anyone to illegally access your account. Enabling two-factor authentication adds another layer of security.
Resetting a Forgotten Snapchat Password
If you no longer remember your current Snapchat login credentials, utilize the password reset option instead of changing it.
Over 75% of small business owners use the same password across multiple accounts, so resetting a forgotten password risks compromising other accounts if too simple. Follow these instructions to reset your Snapchat password safely:
- Tap "Forgot your password?" on the login screen
- Choose to reset via email or SMS text message
- Enter the verification code sent and create a brand new password
- Use a password generator tool to create a randomized, 20+ character credential impossible to remember but very highly secure
- Write this new complex password down and store it somewhere very safe in your office
By generating an entirely new and obscured Snapchat password to reset a forgotten one, small businesses remain protected from potential threats related to password reuse.
Why Snapchat Password Security Matters
While often viewed as just another social app, Snapchat offers small businesses serious opportunities to boost brand engagement. The platform‘s 25-34 year old users spend over 30 minutes per day viewing Snapchat content on average.
However, hackers target Snapchat to spread malware and inappropriate content using hacked accounts. A breach could seriously jeopardize brand reputation and consumer trust.
That‘s why following this guide on how to change your Snapchat password matters – combining security and convenience allows small companies to strategically leverage Snapchat without needless risk. Let me know if any questions come up!
