Top Social Media Safety Tips for Safer Internet Day 2026

Safer Internet Day is the perfect time to talk about online safety for children and social media safety for young people. This guide highlights the main online risks for children across popular platforms (Snapchat, WhatsApp, TikTok, and Discord) and offers practical steps for parents’ online safety guidance, managing privacy settings on social media, and building digital footprint awareness.

Snapchat Safety Tips (Age Suitability: 13+)

About Snapchat: Snapchat is an instant messaging app for sending images, videos and messages to contacts. Although messages often ‘disappear’ after 24 hours, this is not always as private as it seems. The app has also introduced My AI, now one of the most used AI tools by children.

Key Risks:

• Snapchat stranger danger – Users can be found by username and receive requests from anyone.
• Inappropriate content – Public profiles and hashtags can surface unsuitable content.
• Snap Map privacy risks – SnapMap can display a device’s exact location. My Places may reveal regular locations and check ins.
• AI limitations – Snapchat My AI risks include misleading or biased information presented as fact.
• Messages don’t always disappear – Screenshots, second device photos, or saving to Memories / My Eyes Only can preserve content.

Snapchat safety tips:

• Keep your profile private – Profiles are private by default; keep Ghost Mode on and limit your Friends List to people you know in real life.
• Use critical thinking with AI – Ask: Does this sound reasonable? Verify before believing or sharing.
• Have regular conversations – Talk about digital footprint and the risks of sharing images that can be saved or forwarded.

WhatsApp Safety for Young People (Age Suitability: 13+)

About WhatsApp: WhatsApp is an instant messaging app for texts, images, videos and documents, plus voice and video calls, with end-to-end encryption. Only the sender and recipient can read messages: not even WhatsApp.

Key Risks:

• WhatsApp online scams – Unknown numbers may impersonate family or services to push urgent actions.
• WhatsApp group chat safety – Anyone with your number can message you; group chats can expose your number to others.
• View Once & Disappearing Messages – Photos/videos can be set to view once; chat history can auto delete after 24 hours, 7 days or 90 days.
• Chat Lock – Sensitive chats can be secured behind Face/Touch ID.
• WhatsApp read receipts pressure – Read receipts, Last Seen, and Online status can create pressure to respond quickly.

Whatsapp Safety Tips:

• Tighten Privacy – In Privacy settings, control who can add you to groups to prevent sharing your number.
• Keep your profile information private – Adjust Last Seen, Profile Photo, and Read Receipts to limit visibility
• Discuss feature uses – Talk about when to use View Once or Disappearing Messages, and when to avoid them.

• Think twice – Verify unknown senders; never share personal data. If a message sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

TikTok Safety Tips for Parents (Age Suitability: 13+; some features 18+)

About TikTok: TikTok lets users create, watch and share short videos—from news and trends to dances and tutorials. It’s widely used for self-expression and entertainment.

Key Risks: 

• Contact with strangers – For users aged 16+, profiles default to public, making videos visible and commentable. Users can DM through the Inbox.
• TikTok inappropriate content risks – The For You feed recommends content based on viewing history; not all content is suitable.
• TikTok dangerous trends – Some viral trends are dangerous (e.g., breath holding, risky pranks, hazardous food challenges.
• TikTok shop and in app purchases – In app purchases such as TikTok Shop & Coins can encourage spending.
• TikTok screen time concerns – Short, addictive videos can impact sleep and focus and give a false perception of how long you have been on the app.

TikTok Safety Tips:

• Keep profiles private – Under 16 profiles should remain private. Enable Family Pairing so parents control safety settings.
• TikTok Family Pairing – Parents can customise settings and require approval for changes.
• Restrict spending – Use device settings to block in app purchases.
• Ask questions – Discuss content they like or create; agree on steps to take if something is upsetting or if someone is unkind.

Discord Safety for Young People (Age Suitability: 13+)

About Discord: Discord is a real-time communication platform (text, voice, video) built around servers (communities) with topic-based channels. It began with gaming and now spans many interests.

Key Risks:

• Discord server risks– Public servers and communities can mean talking with people you don’t know, from anywhere in the world.
• Paid upgrades – Nitro and other upgrades can be purchased; ensure no in app purchases on children’s devices.
• Discord inappropriate content – 18+ content should be flagged NSFW, but age isn’t always verified. There is also the risk that the messages may not contain profanities so the system may not detect inappropriate topics and ideas such as misogyny, racism, or radicalisation.
• Different servers, different settings – Rules vary by server; moderation quality differs.
• Exclusion – Access is invite-based; withholding links can exclude others.
• Ephemeral calls – Voice/video streams aren’t recorded, making issues hard to evidence.

Discord Safety Tips:

• Scan & remove explicit content – In Privacy & Safety, enable filtering for inappropriate DMs.
• Use Family Center – The Discord Family Center helps parents set boundaries and manage safety. For information on How to use Discord Family Center visit their website.
• Discord stranger danger– In User Settings, toggle who can send requests; consider turning them off so your child does the adding.
• Server invite settings – Use Invite Only access and Server Member Applications to keep communities safe.
• Regular conversations – Reinforce digital citizenship and adherence to Discord’s Community Guidelines.

Cross Platform Online Safety Tips (For Parents & Educators)

• Manage privacy settings on social media – Review controls for profiles, friend requests, read receipts, and location.
• Talk to children about online safety – Keep open, honest, regular conversations about digital footprint and boundaries.
• Prevent online scams – Teach children to verify identities, avoid sharing personal data, and recognise phishing behaviours.
• Use parental controls – Apply device-level settings to restrict in-app purchases, screen time, and explicit content.
• Model healthy habits – Set family rules: no phones after bedtime, device-free meals, and agreed-upon screen time limits.

FAQs

Is Snapchat safe for children?

It can be, if profiles remain private, Ghost Mode is on, and children understand that messages don’t always disappear. Encourage critical thinking about Snapchat My AI.

How do I make TikTok safe for my child?

Enable Family Pairing, set the account to private, restrict in app purchases, and talk about avoiding dangerous trends.

What WhatsApp settings should parents change?

Limit group invites, hide Last Seen and Read Receipts, and talk about spotting WhatsApp online scams.

Is Discord appropriate for young people?

With Family Center, strict Friend Request controls, Invite Only servers, and content filters, Discord can be safer—but ongoing conversations are essential.

Continuing the conversation of Online Safety is important, why not see Want To Talk About It? Advice for Parents on Talking About Online Safety. Or our guest blog from Keir McDonald MBE Keeping Students Safe Online.