Cheating in monogamous relationships is a tale as old as time. There have been countless stories of unfaithful partners throughout the ages and pretty much across all cultures. But in the modern age of smartphones and social media platforms, the advent of concepts like Snapchat cheating has taken the risk and insecurities associated with infidelity to a whole other level.

That’s because people no longer need to step out of their homes, come up with elaborate alibis, and carefully plan clandestine meetings with paramours to be able to carry out an affair. Your partner could be sitting across from you, in the same room, even in the same bed, and texting someone else. Snapchat, which took the world by storm with the concept of disappearing messages, has played a crucial role in facilitating this ease of infidelity.

So, it’s only fair to question if Snapchat is for cheaters. Well, it wasn’t intended to be a cheating app. But, these days, the correlation between Snapchat and cheating has become so strong that if someone has the app installed on their phone, people tend to assume they’re cheating. So, if your partner is one among the millions of Snapchat users and that has got you worried that they may be cheating on you, we’re here to help. Together, we will decipher how to tell if someone is cheating on Snapchat, and what to do about it.

What Is Snapchat Cheating?

Wondering, what is Snapchat cheating? Or how can someone use Snapchat for cheating? After all, for a lot of people, the idea of infidelity revolves around a romantic or sexual relationship with someone other than one’s partner/spouse. However, there can be different forms of infidelity — emotional, sexual, a combination of the two, and in this day and age, virtual as well.

Using Snapchat for cheating falls under the category of virtual or online infidelity. A person can engage in a full-blown online affair, complete with emotional investment and sexual elements such as sexting and exchanging risque photos or emojis with someone, knowing that these snaps will disappear forever, once seen.

Snapchat makes it super easy for cheaters to get away with their transgressions. That is why this app has become so popular among cheaters. In fact, Snapchat cheating statistics suggest that 23% of long-term or serial cheaters prefer this app to communicate with their affair partners.

While you may not think it is as bad as sleeping around behind a partner’s back, it can and does tear relationships apart. So if your partner is among the ‘avid’ Snapchat users, you might want to get some insight into online activities.

12 Signs Your Partner Is Guilty Of Snapchat Cheating

Now, how to tell if someone is cheating on Snapchat can become a huge conundrum and leave your relationship riddled with insecurities and doubts. After all, you may have set boundaries about each other’s phones and privacy. This makes it easy for a partner to use Snapchat for cheating and get away with their philandering ways. A partner using Snapchat for affairs may also hide behind the idea that they’re not sleeping around outside the relationship. This is a classic tactic used by people to justify online affairs.

However, a betrayal of trust is a betrayal of trust, irrespective of whether it’s in the real world or by using Snapchat for cheating. There is no denying that online affairs are reshaping the idea of fidelity. As easy as it has become for a partner to get away with their indiscretions, you can ensure they don’t continue taking you for a ride. Pay attention to these tell-tale signs that can serve as Snapchat cheating evidence:

1. They’ve become unusually possessive about their phone

One of the most telling Snapchat cheating signs is that your partner has suddenly become possessive about their phone or secretive about their use of the phone. In fact, this red flag is not just limited to Snapchat cheating but is also the first strong indicator of cell phone infidelity. This is what it might look like if your partner is indulging in Snapchat affairs:

• They make sure to face you while using their phone, so you don’t see the cheating snaps they could be sending
• They always keep their cell phone face down when not using it
• They leave the room more than usual when checking their phone
• They won’t let you use their phone even to make routine phone calls

Related Reading: What Is Micro-Cheating And What Are The Signs?

2. They have another Snapchat Super BFF

Snapchat’s best friend feature is a great way to see what your partner has been up to without going through their phone. This allows Snapchat users to have several best friends. The BFs you’ve been interacting with the most frequently get upgraded to ‘Besties’, ‘BFFs’, or ‘Super BFFs’, each indicated by a special emoji:

• 😊 BFs
• 💛 Besties
• ❤️ BFF
• 💕 Super BFF

If you find that you’ve gone down a rank, say from ‘Super BFF’ to ‘BFF’, with your SO, or if you don’t have the longest snap streak with them anymore, this could mean that they’re spending their time on the app talking to someone else — a sneaky way to spot Snapchat cheating signs. And a great reminder that with just a little attention to detail, you can easily catch your boyfriend cheating or call out your girlfriend on their cheating, conniving ways, or spot a cheating husband/cheating wife on Snapchat, no matter how stealth they think they’re being.

3. They spend a lot of time on their own

If your SO is spending a lot of time alone, then that, in itself, is a relationship red flag that things are going downhill. If, in addition to this, you can hear them clicking photos through the door, they’re likely sending cheating snaps. After all, for cheaters, the allure of this app is the ease with which cheating Snapchat messages disappear, making it easy to exchange naughty photos with their affair partners without having to go through the hassle of wiping their phone clean afterward.

A Reddit user has an excellent tip on how to check if your partner has been sending cheating Snaps: “Take a snap on his phone, and hit the send to button, you’ll see who he’s been snapping recently even if he’s deleted the convos from the main page.” Now, this may make you wonder whether Snapchat is for cheaters exclusively. The answer is ‘no’ but some of its features make it extremely useful for cheaters. Disappearing snaps and text messages rank pretty high on the list. That’s why people use Snapchat for affairs.

Related Reading: How Not To Let Phones Ruin Your Relationship

4. They ignore you on Snapchat but not on other social media apps

This might not seem like a big deal, since you probably spend a lot of time with your partner in real life. But if they completely refrain from communicating with you on Snapchat, it could be an indicator of infidelity. Their reluctance to engage with you on the platform could be because they’re using Snapchat for affairs and don’t want to risk sending you something intended for one of their *ahem* Snapchat connections. They could be sending photos or messages that are inappropriate. This is especially true if they’re not ignoring you on other social media apps.

5. They have become emotionally distant

In addition to the above behaviors, becoming emotionally distant all of a sudden is a classic sign of infidelity, regardless of whether it’s happening on Snapchat or in real life. In a monogamous relationship, emotional distance is probably the number one sign that the relationship is in danger. It means that your partner is taking you for granted. A partner engaging in Snapchat affairs will likely distance themselves from you to focus on this new excitement in their life.

6. They’re unusually engrossed in their phone

While smartphone addiction is now fairly commonplace, if you notice your SO on their cell phone significantly more than usual and have no idea what they’re up to, it could mean that they are engrossed in a certain cheating app. If they were simply browsing social media, they’d share memes, reels, or controversial news with you.

On the other hand, if they’re busy sending cheating snaps, they will obviously be super secretive. The last thing they’d want is for you to discover their cheating Snapchat messages, and who they are sending them to. They would also hate for you to read text messages on their platform. So, if you decide to look through their phone to see what they’ve been up to, you may find nothing at all. This is one of the signs they’ve been using Snapchat for cheating.

This Reddit user gives an excellent tip on gathering Snapchat cheating evidence. “Go on Snapchat settings, click “My Data”, then you’ll put in an email, and Snap will send you the full Snapchat history with time stamps. This includes messages, photos, deleted messages, added friends, deleted friends, and unadded, and blocked people. Even if he deleted the messages individually, they will still show here. Make sure you have them send that email to your email. He won’t even know you’ve had it sent, it’ll take 24 hours for them to gather all the data but he won’t know at all unless you tell him that you did.”

Related Reading: Has Your Husband Checked Out Emotionally? 12 Signs Of a Failing Marriage

7. Their Snapchat activity doesn’t align with their stories

Say, your partner posts on Snapchat that they were hard at work over the weekend. However, they told you they would be out of town visiting their folks. Or, they tell you they’re late for a date with you because they were stuck in traffic. But, their Snapchat stories and Snap Locations show they were elsewhere. These cooked-up stories are a textbook case of a cheater trying to hide their tracks. This is also a clear indicator that their transgressions are not limited to the virtual realm alone.

While one of their prime reasons to get Snapchat may have been to carry out the affair more seamlessly without risking getting caught, there is a certain real-life element to that relationship. All those moments of absence that don’t quite add up could be the time your partner is spending with their affair partner.

8. They get defensive when you question their online behavior

It is human nature for most people to become defensive when caught doing something wrong. So, if you think your partner’s reasons to get Snapchat include betraying your trust, confront them about it. If your suspicion is on point, they will likely get defensive. That is a red flag you shouldn’t ignore. Even if you don’t level accusations of cheating but simply ask them why they’re behaving the way they are, they may become unusually guarded and may lash out because they fear the questions you’re asking will eventually unearth the truth.

9. Their desire for you has significantly reduced

Cheating of any kind, typically, leads to a loss of intimacy between two partners. Let’s face it, most of us don’t have the libido to consistently be with more than one person for a long time. Eventually, cheaters lose their desire for their partners and focus more on their new interests. If you sense that your partner doesn’t desire you as much anymore and it coincides with other changes in their behavior, it could be Snapchat cheating evidence.

Related Reading: 9 Sexless Relationship Effects No One Talks About

10. They don’t want to work on the relationship anymore

The fact of the matter is that relationships take work. So, if your partner has suddenly stopped holding up their end to make it work, it might be because they’re indulging in a side-romance. After all, if someone else has all their attention, how will they have the bandwidth to invest in your relationship?

The popularity of Snapchat for cheaters is rooted in the idea that it allows them to carry on with their transgressions on the downlow, without raising any red flags in their primary relationship. Ironically, no matter how effortless it may be to carry out Snapchat affairs, they still take away from the emotional capacity to fully invest in one’s primary relationship. That manifests in Snapchat cheating signs such as a lack of will to prioritize the relationship.

11. Your partner has Snapchat friends you know nothing about

If you have been together for a significant amount of time, it’s only natural to know all of each other’s friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances. But if you suddenly notice a friend on your partner’s Snapchat that you know nothing about, it should rouse suspicion and make you want to ask questions.

• Who is this person?
• How does your partner know them?
• Why haven’t they felt the need to tell you about them?

Given the symbiotic existence of Snapchat and cheating, you may want to keep an eye out for such seemingly innocuous but potential red flags.

12. They’ve set up false flags to put you off their scent

Snapchat for cheaters can be a haven if they’re technologically sound and know how to manipulate the app to their advantage. One such complex but telling way a person cheating on Snapchat may get away with their transgressions is by setting up false flags. That is, they set Snapchat notifications to go off randomly, but when you check there are no messages appearing.

If you quiz your partner about it, they may chalk it up to some technical glitch. When it is, in fact, a smokescreen to hide the notifications they don’t want you to see or pay attention to. This is a trick used by Snapchat cheaters to hide their tracks. A simple internet search about ‘Snapchat false notifications’ will tell you all you need to know about this trick to hide Snapchat cheating signs.

Related Reading: 8 Conflict Resolution Strategies In Relationships That Almost Always Work

How To Catch Someone Cheating On Snapchat

Now that you know all about the usefulness of Snapchat for cheaters and perhaps can relate to some or most of the Snapchat cheating signs, the next order of business is to confront your partner about your suspicions. However, confronting a cheating partner is never easy. What if you’re wrong? This could drive a wedge in your relationship rather than bring you closer together (assuming your partner’s emotional distance is not due to cheating).

And on the flip side, what if you’re right about your partner cheating on Snapchat? That means your worst fears are confirmed and the relationship could be all but over. Either way, you will still need to know the Snapchat tricks to catch a cheater. Here are some tips on how to catch someone cheating on Snapchat:

1. Confront your partner

If your partner is Snapchat cheating, the ideal option would be to share your concerns with them directly. But make sure you have sufficient cheating evidence to back up whatever you say. When confronting a cheater, be direct. If you’re unsure of how to broach the subject, plan what you’re going to say beforehand.

Related Reading: 18 Definite Signs Of A Cheating Boyfriend

2. Catch them red-handed

On the other hand, if you feel confronting them will cause them to become defensive or deceitful, you could try catching your partner in the act. You may not have the heart to deal with the shocking things cheaters say when confronted. Catching them in the act may sound difficult, but with a little attention to detail, you can spot the anomalies in their behavior, and then, follow that trail to uncover what they’ve been trying to hide.

For instance, once you see enough Snapchat cheating signs, you could try the ‘My data’ hack a Reddit user recommended, track your partner’s BFFs on the app, or even access their phone secretly to look for evidence of cheating.

3. Use spy apps to track their Snapchat activity

Spy apps are an excellent option if you’re wondering how to tell if someone is cheating on Snapchat. After all, if your partner is well-versed in Snapchat stealth mode tricks, you’ll never really catch them in the wrong. However, spy apps can help uncover all the dirt you need on your partner, right from photos to videos, snaps, stories, friends, Snap Map, messages, and more.

One such app is mSpy which lets you in on all those private Snaps they’re sending and receiving. It’s a monitoring app that installs easily on their device. And once it’s up and running, you can monitor their Snapchat conversations without them knowing. Simply log in to your mSpy Control Panel, look for Snapchat in the left navigation bar, and click on a Snapchat conversation to read it.

You’ll see every message that was sent and received. And if you’re worried about those disappearing messages that Snapchat is famous for, don’t be. Snapchat lets you in on those too by capturing screenshots of their phone as they use Snapchat. If your partner uses an iPhone, you could even download an iPhone spy software to go beyond just their Snapchat habits without trying to learn their iCloud credentials.

4. Observe their behavioral patterns closely

It is easy to uncover Snapchat cheating by being more observant of your partner’s behavioral patterns. There are specific ways cheaters act so you may notice the following red flags:

• An increase in the time they spend on the app
• Being secretive about their activities while on the platform
• Sneakiness about when they log on, for instance late in the night when they should be asleep
• Physical cues like avoiding eye contact and defensiveness when you want to see what they are doing on Snapchat
• They seem quite happy or animated when on the social media platform
• Excessive secrecy like changing passwords or hiding the device

However, you mustn’t jump to conclusions. While these behaviors can raise suspicions, they are not necessarily a confirmation of cheating.

Related Reading: How To Accept Your Marriage Is Over

5. Check their Snapchat settings

Snapchat has tons of features that can give you critical information on whether or not your partner is cheating. You will, of course, need to access your partner’s account. Once you do, watch out for the following Snapchat cheating signs.

• Privacy setting: If your partner previously had their Snapchat account setting on open access, and now it is set to ‘Only Me’, that could be one of the signs of trouble. Why do they suddenly feel the need to lock you out? Simple: you may stumble upon something that confirms that Snapchat is indeed for cheaters
• Snap Map statuses: The Snap Map displays a user’s real-time location to those on their Snapchat friend list. If you find that you have been deleted from the list, that should be a concern. There can’t be any reason for your partner to hide their location from you, unless they have, well, something to hide 
• Snapchat Score: Every Snapchat user’s activities are recorded on the Snapchat Score. If  you can gain access to your partner’s ‘score’, you may see a sudden hike, which could be a sign of cheating 
• Chat history: This will let you see who your partner has been chatting with, including any unfamiliar contact. Of course, if they are good at cheating, they will have cleared the chat history
• Snapchat memories: Look at the saved stories or snaps in your partner’s Snapchat account to see if any make you suspicious 

Snooping through your partner is never a good idea. However, if the shadow of Snapchat cheating signs has cast aspersions and shaken your trust in your partner, it might just be necessary to check whether your worst fears are coming true.

How To Handle Snapchat Cheating In A Relationship

You’ve finally deciphered how to tell if someone is cheating on Snapchat, and to your dismay, discovered that your partner has, in fact, been betraying your trust by engaging in virtual infidelity. You may also find that even though your partner’s transgressions have been largely, or solely, virtual, the betrayal is still as painful as discovering that your partner has been sleeping with someone else. So, where do you go from here? How do you handle Snapchat cheating? Here are some tips to work through the pain:

1. Communicate with your partner

Establish an open dialogue with your partner, discussing their actions, and the impact they’ve had on your mental health as well as the health of your relationships, and explore where you go from here, as a couple — do you stay together and try to work things out or part ways? If it’s the former, the following steps can help you sail through.

2. Understand what triggered the infidelity

As abhorrent and painful as the act of betrayal may be, it is often a symptom of an underlying problem — either within the relationship or with the cheating partner. Explore the root cause that led your partner to cheat and find ways to address it if you want to reconcile and move past this setback.

Related Reading: 11 Common Reasons People Cheat In Relationships

3. Set boundaries and practice digital transparency

Setting healthy relationship boundaries is essential for moving past betrayal in a relationship and learning to trust each other, slowly but surely. Given the nature of your partner’s transgression, boundaries, in this case, must focus on practicing digital transparency and being open about your social media activity and interactions. A study has found that couples who discuss their online behaviors openly and establish clear boundaries are less likely to experience online infidelity.

4. Prioritize quality time

Actively work toward not letting gadgets and screens interfere with the quality time you spend with your partner. Prioritize spending quality time with each other over doom-scrolling.

5. Seek counseling

If you haven’t been able to move past the incident of infidelity on your own, consider seeking professional help from a couples therapist or relationship counselor, who can help you work through the troublesome emotions and equip you with skills to overcome the pain. If you’re looking for help, Bonobology’s panel of counselors is here for you.

6. Focus on self-care and healing

Irrespective of whether you decide to give your partner a second chance or move on, you must prioritize self-care and focus on healing the emotional wounds of this betrayal. Without it, you will never be able to get over this setback in true earnest.

Final Thoughts

While it’s not true that Snapchat is for cheaters exclusively, people have been using this app to get away with infidelity. In fact, Snapchat cheating statistics suggest that it is the preferred app for cheaters. If you suspect that’s what’s been happening in your relationship, look closely for the tell-tale Snapchat cheating signs, and then do what you must to expose your partner’s cheating ways. Yes, all of it can be a huge jolt that can turn your life upside down but it’s better to be aware of the truth than willfully deny the reality.

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