The pioneer of disappearing messages, Snapchat is among the most popular social media platforms globally. Setting up two-factor authentication on Snapchat is very important for both new and existing users. It is known that every social media platform, including Snapchat, has some information about its users, like their name, age, email ID and contact details. When a security breach happens, this data is obtained by bad actors and can be misused. Hence, users should do everything in their power to keep their social media accounts as safe as possible.
Generally, social media platforms require only one credential at the time of login, which is the password set by users. However, enabling two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to the user's account. When set up, two-factor authentication asks for an additional credential, which is a unique code generated by an authenticator app or sent to the user via text message. So, even if the user's password is compromised somehow, if the security measure is in place, it would not authorize a login unless one enters the unique code accessible only by the user.
To set up two-factor authentication on Snapchat, users should tap on their bitmoji (top left corner of the Snapchat home screen) and then tap on the 'gear' icon (top right corner of the screen) to enter the 'Settings' section. Therein, users should locate and tap on the 'Two-Factor Authentication.' At this step, Snapchat clarifies that once two-factor authentication is enabled, users will need both their password and a verification code sent to their phone to log in on new devices. Next, users should tap on 'continue' (bottom of the display). On the next screen, users have to select from two different ways to get their login code.
Select From Text Verification Or Authentication Apps
Users can get the login code via text message or from a separate authentication app on their smartphones, such as Google Authenticator, Duo and more. Text verification would be the best option if someone has access to their smartphone and can receive text messages while logging into the app. Once the option is selected, Snapchat will send a unique verification code to the linked mobile number every time the user tries to log in. However, authentication apps are the way to go if someone is traveling and cannot access their text messages. In this case, Snapchat will redirect the user to one of the authentication apps installed on the smartphone (if not, the user might have to download one). The authentication app will generate a code, and users need to enter it in Snapchat to enable two-factor authentication.
Although setting up two-factor authentication on Snapchat strengthens an account's security, users should be careful about the method they select. For example, if users lose their mobile device or delete the authenticator application they used to set up two-factor authentication on Snapchat. They won't be able to get their login codes and will lose access to their account. For this reason, Snapchat advises users to generate a recovery code and keep it safe so they can access their Snapchat accounts if something goes wrong.
Source: Snapchat