In today’s world, most teens and children are always looking at a screen—particularly online apps, games, or video-sharing platforms. But just because an app or platform is marketed to kids, it doesn’t mean it’s safe. Parents and guardians need to research apps, looking at factors such as:

Data collection: Companies often collect information about the child, like age, email address, and location. This data can be shared with third-party trackers.
Inappropriate content: Most entertainment apps depend on algorithms to choose the content their audience sees. Algorithms sometimes make mistakes, providing inappropriate content.
Cyberbullying or online harassment: Apps where kids interact with each other can be used for harassment from other kids or even adults posing as adults.
Anonymous messaging and predators: Apps that allow anonymous messaging are particularly dangerous because predators can trick kids into providing personal information and sending inappropriate messages that might lead to grooming.
Advertising: Children are vulnerable to manipulative advertising—especially in-app purchases.

Stay informed about what your kids are doing online

Have regular conversations about the apps your children are using. Ask questions like:

What are your favorite apps? Why do you like them? Who is on them with you?

Can you show me how to use your favorite app or play the games you like online?

Have you met new people online who have become friends? Tell me about them. How did you meet?

What do you like/don’t like about the relationship?

Has anyone you’ve talked to online ever asked you to do something that made you feel uncomfortable or bad?

If something happened online that made you feel bad, scared, or worried, what would you do?

Tell me about the friends you have made online. What do you talk about?

11 Potentially dangerous apps

Parents need to understand the risks of each app their child downloads. Here is some information about some of the most popular apps children and teens use today.

(* = apps that share location information by default; ^ = with anonymous messaging)

Snapchat users send photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours, making it a perfect app for cyberbullying or sexting. (13+) *

Whisper entices people to share secrets or confessions anonymously. Anonymity emboldens users to share harmful/inappropriate content without consequences. (17+) *^

WhatsApp users can text, video chat, and send videos or documents online. Scams, malware, and cyberbullying are common. (13+)

Discord gathers people around interests, such as video games. Each Discord channel has unique rules. Some allow cybercrime, adult content, and harassment. (13+)

Kik Messenger offers a way to meet (anonymous) people. Kik’s exposure to strangers and lack of moderation can lead to grooming and cyberbullying. (17+) ^

BeReal users post a photo once a day when prompted. Because BeReal doesn’t actively moderate posts, it can expose people to inappropriate content. (13+) *

TikTok shares short-form video content of all kinds. The app collects personal info, and the algorithm can expose children to increasingly harmful content. (13+)

YouTube provides video content. While YouTube has age-restricted content for people under 13, the algorithm may inadvertently include inappropriate content. Kids 13 and older can also post videos and respond to strangers in the comments. (Age varies)

Roblox features user-generated games that may be inappropriate for kids and allows direct messaging with strangers. (Age varies) ^

WeChat facilitates messaging/social interactions. The app has extensive location-based features and can identify a user’s location. (no age limit) *

Instagram‘s design encourages users to share personal information and the algorithm can push harmful content, making kids more vulnerable to unsafe interactions like phishing or messages from strangers. (13+) *

Many apps marketed to children engage in excessive data collection, including personal information such as age, email addresses, and location data. This data can be shared with third-party trackers, exposing children to exploitative advertising and increasing the risk of data breaches.