5 Ways to Stay in Touch When Your Child Starts University

What is it? Snapchat is a hugely popular messaging app that involves sending out photos and videos to a recipient of your choice, usually with a caption, doodle or lens over the top.

A defining feature of the app is that the recipient only has a few seconds to read a message once they tap it – wherein the message automatically deletes itself! Everything on Snapchat is impermanent, instantaneous, and therein lies the appeal. Learn to accept and cherish the transitory nature of Snapchat.

Difficulty barometer: 9/10. Snapchat involves such a specific brand of humor and so many subtle unspoken rules that it does take some time to get used to. Another factor for this high difficulty score is what’s known among users as a ‘snapstreak’: bewildering to the uninitiated.

How to use it: Download here on your mobile and sign up with your email address. You’ll be asked to choose a username and verify your phone number. To create and send ‘snaps’, tap on a contact’s name inside the app. Snapchat will open to the camera. Just tap the capture button to take a photo or press and hold to record a video. To view a snap someone has sent you, simply tap on it.

Features: Add colored filters and effects to a ‘snap’ by swiping left and right once you’ve taken a photo.  Find out more here. You can also caption photos by tapping on the T icon at the top right-hand side of the screen. Check out these 29 snapchats to get a sense of the kind of humor that you should be aiming for...

Acceptable frequency of exchanges: As often as you like!           

What is it? A messaging and calling function for iPhone owners. Very handy if you have a good data allowance and your child also owns an iPhone.

Difficulty barometer: 1/10                                                                                                  

How to use it: FaceTime enables iPhone users to contact each other via video and audio calls for free. If your recipient also owns an iPhone, the Facetime audio and Facetime icons will appear next to their names. Find out more here. iMessage, on the other hand, allows you to send a text message to another iPhone user for free via the internet.             

Features: iMessage allows you to send ‘handwritten messages’ that you can create by drawing with your index finger on your touchscreen! You can also send out messages with effects, like having the message appear in a shower of balloons or inflate. Find out about iMessage’s great features here!

Acceptable frequency of exchanges: Daily messages are acceptable, but be somewhat less liberal with FaceTime…  

What is it? A free calling app you can download on any device.

Difficulty barometer: 1/10                          

How to get it: Download Skype here and install it across all devices (mobile, tablet, TV etc.) Enjoy cheap international calling rates or free calls, provided your child has a Skype account.           

Acceptable frequency of exchanges: A regular weekly call is likely to work well.

What is it? A great way to share everyday moments of your life – from your breakfast to your office set up – with friends and family. Follow your kids on Instagram to find out about their late night library sessions and horrendous student snacks.

Difficulty barometer: 4/10                                                                                          

How to get it: Sign up here.       

Features: Find out about all the cool photo editing features and other Instagram companion apps that you can use to enhance your Instagram experience here.          

Acceptable frequency of exchanges: Ongoing.

A version of this article was first published in October 2006. It was updated in October 2016.

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