The platforms in your child’s pocket — explained.

Risks

• Unwanted or upsetting recommendations
• Appearance comparison or dieting content
• Unwanted contact through available messaging or comments

Settings

• Private account
• Restricted Mode
• Disable DMs from non-friends
• Family Pairing

Risks

• Public profiles inviting DMs
• Reels algorithm rabbit holes
• Hidden ‘close friends’ accounts

Settings

• Private account
• Sensitive Content Control: Less
• Hidden Words filter
• Family Center supervision

Risks

• Contact with people not known offline
• Unpredictable live content
• Pressure to share personal information

Settings

• Under-18s should not create an account
• Use device controls to restrict access where needed
• Use the official report and support tools for concerns

Risks

• Pornographic content still hosted on the platform — now behind an age wall a teen can try to cheat
• Targeted harassment via replies / quote-posts
• Misinformation amplified by paid blue ticks

Settings

• UK age assurance required for sensitive media
• Known under-18s get protected-post defaults automatically
• Sensitive-media filter ON for under-18s
• Disable DMs from non-followers
• Mute words & accounts

Risks

• Mature/NSFW communities still exist — now behind an age wall a teen can try to cheat
• Anonymous DMs and chat requests
• Pile-ons, doxxing and volunteer-only moderation

Settings

• UK age confirmation required for mature/restricted content
• Disable NSFW via mobile web or desktop (iOS app hides the toggle)
• Chat requests: Nobody / Followers only
• Mute subreddits

Risks

• Location attached to posts by default
• ‘RealMojis’ from friends-of-friends
• Pressure to post in unsafe situations (class, driving)

Settings

• Discovery: Friends only
• Disable location on posts
• Lock account for over-18 visibility

Risks

• Anonymous bullying and threats
• Fake ‘replies’ generated by the app to drive engagement
• Sextortion via anonymous messages

Settings

• Discuss whether anonymous replies are helpful or harmful
• Remove shared question links if unwanted messages arrive
• Seek help for threats before deleting accounts or evidence

Risks

• Unpredictable live content
• Unwanted contact or pressure from strangers
• Someone recording or sharing a conversation

Settings

• Don’t install — block via device-level parental controls

Risks

• Treating generated responses as reliable personal advice
• Sharing sensitive personal information
• Emotional reliance on a simulated character

Settings

• Expect an age check — a selfie estimate or ID may be required
• Turn on Parental Insights so you get a weekly activity email
• Block the app entirely with Screen Time or Family Link if you'd rather they didn't use it

Risks

• Sexual roleplay even on free tier
• Emotional dependence and isolation
• Designed to drive paid upgrades

Settings

• Not appropriate for under-18s — block / uninstall

Risks

• Unwanted content in public channels
• Contact from people not known offline
• Scams or pressure to share money and information

Settings

• Phone Number: Nobody
• Who can add me to groups: My Contacts
• Disable auto-download of media
• Sensitive Content filter on

Risks

• False sense of privacy (screenshots exist)
• Live location with anyone added
• Streaks driving compulsive use

Settings

• Ghost Mode on Snap Map
• Contact Me: Friends only
• Family Center

Risks

• Being added to groups by strangers
• Forwarded misinformation
• Disappearing messages hiding bullying

Settings

• Groups: My Contacts
• Last Seen: Contacts
• Two-step verification

Risks

• Public servers with adult content — UK users must now pass an age check to see 18+ material, but the check is beatable
• Strangers in voice channels and DM requests from server members
• Scam, crypto and 'free Nitro' phishing DMs, plus sextortion attempts that move to private chat

Settings

• UK: age-assurance check (face scan or ID) now gates 18+ content — check whether the account has been verified and how
• Safe Direct Messaging defaults to filtering for everyone; under-18 accounts get the strictest defaults automatically
• Set DM requests from server members to off and friend requests to 'Friends of friends' or 'No one'
• Link your account in Discord Family Centre to see their servers, friends and messages (not message content)

Risks

• Auto-play into unrelated content
• Shorts — fast, addictive feed
• Comments containing strangers

Settings

• Choose the appropriate supervised account
• Review Shorts feed limits
• Review Autoplay
• Check content settings and device-specific controls

Risks

• Unpredictable live chat and broadcasts
• Grooming via Whispers / DMs
• Exposure to adult ‘Just Chatting’ streams

Settings

• Whispers: Friends only
• Block links in chat
• Hide mature streams
• Two-factor authentication

Risks

• Live gambling content (slots, crash games)
• Minimal moderation
• Streamers explicitly courting under-18 audiences

Settings

• No mature-content filter — supervise directly
• Use device-level screen time / DNS blocks
• Disable account creation if possible

Risks

• User-made games with adult themes
• Strangers bypassing age checks by playing along
• Robux scams and ‘free Robux’ links

Settings

• Chat now requires a facial age check or ID
• Check the account age and available chat permissions
• Parent-managed account link
• Spend controls

Risks

• Voice chat with strangers in squads
• Spending on V-Bucks / Battle Pass
• Long sessions, late nights

Settings

• Cabined Account for under-13s
• Voice chat: friends only
• Parental controls PIN

Risks

• Open voice chat on third-party servers
• Grooming on unofficial servers
• Skins / mods downloaded from outside stores

Settings

• Microsoft Family — friends-only multiplayer
• Disable chat on servers
• Whitelist allowed servers only

Risks

• Adult-themed worlds visible to children
• Sexual harassment and ‘virtual groping’
• Voice chat with anyone in the room

Settings

• Review instance privacy separately from avatar trust settings
• Practise mute, block and leaving a world
• Review headset account and app permissions

Risks

• Graphic violence, sexual content, drugs as core gameplay
• Open voice chat with strangers in lobbies
• Real-money microtransactions (Shark Cards)

Settings

• Disable voice chat
• Solo / invite-only sessions
• Console-level spend limits