Leaked Snapchats: Removal From All Online Platforms

Snapchat, one of the world’s most popular photo sharing apps, may seem like a safe place to send pictures to your friends. After all, they disappear, right? Well, that’s not always the case, and your photos can get leaked online. Here’s how to protect your online privacy and remove leaked Snapchats from the internet:

Are Snapchat Leaks Illegal?

Leaked snapchats can be illegal, or at least lead to a civil lawsuit. Especially if the content involves explicit content.

• Viewing, distributing, or possessing images depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child under the age of 18 is a criminal offense.
• If the content involves an adult, it can fall under revenge porn laws, depending on what state you live in. Otherwise, the content could fall under violation of privacy laws, defamation, or intellectual property violations.
• Explicit content may also violate community guidelines and get you kicked off the platform.

Nearly 1/5 of all Snapchat users are aged between 13 and 17 according to Oberlo.

Did Snapchat Have a Data Leak?

Yes, the Snapchat app has had major data leaks that compromise user data:

In December 2013, hackers leaked the usernames and phone numbers of 4.6 million Snapchat users. They claim they wanted to raise awareness about the app’s security flaws.

In October 2014, the app had a severe data leak known as “The Snappening“. Hackers exposed more than 200,000 photos and videos accessed through a third-party app called Snapsaved.

Snapchat claimed their “servers were never breached”. Rather, “Snapchatters were victimized by their use of third-party apps to send and receive Snaps”.

Nonetheless, this private content was often explicit in nature, and about half of users at the time were minors.

A lot has changed in the last 10 years, and Snapchat took steps to enhance user privacy. The app now has features to detect and block third-party apps.

But, that doesn’t mean you are 100% safe from a leak.

The good news is, you can remove your leaked images from the internet. 

Related: If you’re an OnlyFans content creator, check out our guide to protect yourself against OnlyFans leaks.

7 Steps to Take After Leaked Snapchat Photos

1. Assess the situation

When you first learn your Snapchat images were leaked, don’t panic. Stay calm and avoid making any impulsive decisions. You will get through this.

If you’re an adult, first you should determine the extent of the leak. You can try a reverse Google image search to find any website that hosts your leaks.

If the leaked images or videos involve a minor, contact the police right away. Possessing, distributing, and receiving anything that constitutes child pornography is a federal crime. Get law enforcement involved immediately.

2. Report the leaks

You can report leaks to Snapchat two different ways:

Report through the app:

• Open the Snapchat app on your phone and find the snap, story, or account you want to report.
• For in-chat snaps, press and hold the Snap. Tap the “Report Snap” button. Select your reason for reporting and follow the instructions
• For stories, tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Tap “Report” and choose the reason.
• For accounts, go to the user’s profile by tapping on their Bitmoji or username. Tap the three vertical dots in the top-right corner. Tap “Report” and select the reason.

Report through the Snapchat support website:

• Go to the Reporting Illegal Content or Abuse page.
• Click “report things to us on the web”.
• Select the relevant request.
• Follow the instructions and fill out relevant information.
  

  Go to Snapchat Support to report content on their website.

3. Request Snap removal

Once leaked, Snaps can spread all over the internet. But, you can request removal from whichever sites host those images.

For example, you may need to remove your images from Google search results.

You can also contact the website hosting your images directly and ask them to take it down. Explain that the image in question was leaked without your consent.

Plus, you may be able to file a DMCA takedown notice if you took the picture yourself.

4. Review Snapchat account security settings

When someone leaks your Snaps, you should go to your account and review your privacy and security settings.

Change your password immediately, and make sure the new one is hard for someone to guess. Also, enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

Review your privacy settings. Make sure only close friends or family can see your posts or location.

5. Reach out for help

Leaked images surfacing online can bring up feelings of shame and anger. But remember, you don’t have to go through this alone.

Reach out to trusted friends and family about the leak. They can help you navigate this situation.

For professional help, there are a few things to consider:

• Consult a lawyer in cases where you need to press charges or start a civil case
• Reach out to a mental health professional if you feel distressed
• For widespread leaks, consider hiring an online reputation management service

6. Monitor the situation

After the initial leak, new images of you may continue to appear online – even after you think you found them all. So, you should monitor the internet for any new image of you.

Set up Google Alerts for your name or any keywords related to the Snapchat leak. Keep records of your removal requests, websites where you find your images, and any responses received.

7. Prevent future leaks

Whenever you use the internet, there is always a chance for your information to be compromised.

To keep yourself safe, it’s best to avoid sharing sensitive content in the first place. Even if you trust the person you send pictures to now, you never know what could happen in the future.

Staying anonymous online is a great way to protect yourself. 

Remember to regularly review your app permissions and privacy settings. Make sure you know about all the Snapchat privacy features. Carefully read through the privacy policies on every social media platform you use.

Snap Leak Info – What You Need to Know

Snapleak.info is a new website claiming to offer a “Snapchat generator” and a database of leaked content. Scamadvisor.com gives this website a low trust score.

The website uses similar branding to Snapchat. However, it has several red flags to indicate that it is a scam or malicious site. Users are advised to stay away from Snapleak.info.

Conclusion: Remove Leaked Snapchats Today

When someone leaks your private images, taking swift action is vital. Follow these steps to remove leaked Snapchats and stay safe on the internet. Being proactive about your online privacy is the key to your safety and reputation.

If you need help removing leaked Snaps, or other images, Reputation911’s Internet Privacy Team is here to help. We provide information removal, search suppression services, and regular monitoring to protect your online privacy.

About The Author

William DiAntonio

William DiAntonio is the Founder & CEO of Reputation911, a reputation management firm he founded in 2010 that has earned the trust of its clients for over a decade by helping individuals, businesses and brands control their online search results.