Snapchat Privacy Settings Explained: Blocking and Viewing Stories

Introduction to Snapchat Privacy Settings

Understanding Snapchat's Privacy Settings - The social media platform offers multiple privacy settings to protect user information and interactions. Whether it is blocking stories or viewing them, these settings play a pivotal role in maintaining user privacy and digital security.

Can Someone Still View My Stories if I Block Them?

In the context of Snapchat, if you block someone, they cannot see your stories or profile, but you can still view their stories unless they have also blocked you. This principle is based on the bidirectional nature of blocking. Here’s a detailed explanation:

Blocking on Snapchat

Blocking someone on Snapchat does the following:

Stops them from viewing your stories and other content. Removes them from your contacts list. Prevents you from finding them through Snapchat’s search engine.

However, if they haven’t blocked you, you can still view their stories. Here are some additional details:

Unblocking: They can unblock you, which might involve a "waiting game" to see when you might unblock them, similar to a game of chess. Account removal: If they have blocked you, you will no longer be able to send them Snaps, and they will appear in your 'added me' list.

Viewing Another’s Stories if You Are Blocked

If one person has blocked you, they cannot view your profile or your story. This restriction applies regardless of whether your story is set to 'friends only' or 'everyone.'

According to official Snapchat guidelines, you cannot view their stories from the account that has blocked you. If they did gain access to your stories, it would have to be through another account.

Story Settings and Visibility

Your story settings determine who can see your stories:

Friends Only: The other person would need to be friends with them to view your stories. Everyone: They can search your username on their 'other' account and view your stories. Accounts with Multiple Snapchat IDs: They may also view your stories on accounts other than the one they blocked you on, given that you are friends with those accounts.

This flexibility in Snapchat's settings can lead to confusion, especially for users concerned about privacy. It is recommended to only add people you know and set your story settings to 'friends only' to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.

Conclusion

Understanding and using Snapchat's privacy and blocking settings can help you maintain control over your digital footprint on the platform. Always be aware of the implications of blocking and being blocked, and take steps to ensure your privacy is protected.