Why This Matters
Social media can be a place for creativity,connection, and learning, but it can also expose kids to serious risks if privacy settings are ignored. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat collect and share vast amounts of user data by default, including location, photos, and personal details.
Without proper settings, strangers may view your child’s posts, track their location, or contact them directly. In some cases, oversharing can lead to identity theft, grooming, or sextortion attempts.
According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 60% of teens say they’ve been contacted by someone they don’t know online, and 39% have experienced unwanted exposure to inappropriate content. Teaching children how to control their privacy is one of the simplest, and most effective ways to protect them online.
The Pros and Cons of Social Media
The Good
- Builds creativity and digital skills
- Helps kids express themselves and connect with friends
- Offers learning opportunities through educational content
- Supports social belonging and identity formation
The Risks
- Oversharing personal details (location, photos, identity)
- Strangers or predators contacting through private messages
- Cyberbullying and harassment in comment sections
- Data collection and tracking by third-party advertisers
- Permanent digital footprints that may resurface later
The 5 Golden Rules for Social Media Privacy
Rule
Rule 1: Review Privacy Settings Together
Rule 2: Turn Off Location Sharing
Rule 3: Control Who Can Message or Comment
Rule 4: Manage What’s Publicly Visible
Rule 5: Teach the Power of the Digital Footprint
What It Means
Every platform has unique privacy controls that manage who can see content and contact your child.
Many apps automatically track and display your child’s location.
Private messages are one of the main ways predators attempt contact.
Profile bios, tagged photos, and linked accounts can reveal too much.
Once something is online, it can be copied or screenshotted forever.
How to Teach It / Apply It
Go through Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube together. Set accounts to “private,” disable “suggested accounts,” and limit who can comment or tag.
In TikTok and Instagram, turn off “precise location.” Remind your child not to post where they are in real time.
On TikTok: “Direct messages—Friends only.” On Instagram: “Message controls Only people you follow.” Teach kids to block or report inappropriate contacts immediately.
Check profile info together—remove last names, schools, or locations. On YouTube, turn off “public subscriptions” and “public playlists.”
Encourage your child to pause before posting: “Would I be okay if this post was public forever?” Create a family rule for reviewing sensitive content before sharing.
Conversation Starters for Parents
Open communication helps your child feel supported and empowered—not monitored. Try asking:
- “Who can see your posts and stories right now?”
- “Do you ever get messages from people you don’t know?”
- “Can we look together at your privacy settings on TikTok or Instagram?”
- “Have you ever felt uncomfortable with a comment or message?”
- “What kind of things do you think are okay to share online?”
These questions help kids reflect on their online boundaries while giving parents insight into their experiences.
Final Thought
Privacy settings are more than technical tools, they’re life skills for the digital age. By reviewing settings together and encouraging open dialogue, parents help kids take ownership of their safety and understand how to protect their digital identity.
When used responsibly, social media can be empowering. With awareness, clear boundaries, and guidance, children can share, connect, and create safely without giving up their privacy or peace of mind.