Child Safety6 min readReviewed April 23, 2026
Quick actions
- Review friend lists and remove unknown contacts.
- Turn off open direct messages where possible.
- Talk about why moving to a different platform can increase risk.
- Practice how to block, report, and ask for help.
Profile review
- Remove school names, addresses, phone numbers, sports schedules, and location clues.
- Use usernames that do not reveal full names, birthdays, school, or location.
- Check whether profile photos or backgrounds reveal where the child lives, studies, or plays.
- Review who can see posts, stories, livestreams, and tagged content.
Messaging and friend requests
- Children should be wary of people they only know online, especially those asking for secrecy.
- A request to move from one game or app to another should start a conversation with a trusted adult.
- Gifts, money, game currency, compliments, dares, and threats can all be used to pressure a child.
- Families should know how to block and report in each app before a problem happens.
Livestreams, screenshots, and permanence
Children need plain language about permanence. Screenshots, recordings, saved streams, and reshared posts can spread beyond the original audience. The point is not to scare children, but to help them pause before sharing.
Family review rhythm
- Review one app each week instead of trying to inspect everything at once.
- Let children explain the app first so adults learn how it is actually used.
- End every review by naming one trusted adult and one reporting tool.
Important note
This resource is for education and planning. It is not legal advice, clinical advice, or a substitute for agency policy, school policy, legal counsel, emergency services, or trained investigative support.