👀 See What content is your child viewing?	💬 Speak Who are they messaging, gaming or sharing with?	🔒 Secure Are privacy, location and payment settings locked down?
🎮 Sit alongside Watch them play or scroll so you understand the space.	🚪 Digital doors Public accounts leave the door open to everyone.	🧭 Check often Settings, followers and chats can change quickly.

Top 10 Platforms Parents Should Know About

This quick-reference appendix supports wider awareness of platforms and online spaces that parents may hear about, use themselves, or assume are harmless. The key message is that risk often comes from private messaging, unknown contacts, livestreaming, location sharing, adult content, gaming chat, hidden accounts and movement between platforms.

Platform	Why parents should know it	Quick parent check
1. Snapchat	Popular for disappearing messages, streaks, images, videos and Snap Map. Risk can include hidden conversations, location sharing, grooming, image pressure and sextortion.	Check friend list, turn off location sharing, use Family Centre where available and talk about disappearing messages.
2. Instagram	Used for reels, stories, direct messages, livestreams and “finsta” or private side accounts. Risk can include unknown followers, image pressure, sexualised content and hidden accounts.	Set to private, review followers, check direct messages and ask whether there is a second or private account.
3. TikTok	Short videos and livestreams can quickly expose children to trends, adult themes, harmful content, comments and direct contact.	Use Family Pairing, restrict messages and comments, filter keywords and check watch history, liked content and saved videos.
4. Roblox	Looks child-friendly but includes chat, avatars, private servers, user-created games and in-game spending. Some children are contacted by people they do not know.	Limit chat, review friends, check private servers, set spending limits and play together occasionally.
5. Discord	Common in gaming communities and group chats. Servers can be private, adult, unmoderated or difficult for parents to understand.	Review servers, restrict direct messages, check friend settings and agree that unsafe servers are left immediately.
6. Fortnite, Minecraft and online console games	Gaming spaces can include voice chat, private parties, friend requests, private worlds and invitations to move to other apps.	Restrict voice chat, approve friend requests, set time and spending limits, and keep gaming in shared spaces where possible.
7. PlayStation Network, Xbox Live and Nintendo Switch Online	Consoles are not just for gaming; they can also be used for messaging, voice chat, friend requests and in-game purchases.	Use family settings, restrict communication, approve purchases and check whether the console is being used for private chat.
8. X / Twitter	Public posts and direct messages may expose children to adult content, pornography, violent material, hate speech, misinformation and unknown adults.	Check whether the child has an account, restrict sensitive content where possible and talk about why adult spaces are not suitable for children.
9. OnlyFans and adult subscription sites	These are adult platforms but can become normalised through social media, influencers, links, screenshots and peer conversations. Risk can include adult sexual content, payment pressure and exploitation.	Use device-level restrictions, block adult sites, check payment methods and talk about coercion, consent and image-sharing.
10. Omegle-style random chat or video sites	These connect users with strangers and can expose children to adult behaviour, sexual content, coercion, grooming, threats or recording. Copycat sites may appear even when original services close.	Block random chat sites, check browser access and explain why stranger video chat is high risk.

 

Why Age Limits Do Not Always Protect Children

Most social media, messaging and gaming platforms have age limits, but many rely on the child entering their own date of birth. This means the platform may assume the user is old enough because the child has said they are. Children may change their date of birth, create a new account, use a different email address, use a parent’s account, access the platform through a browser, or use a friend’s device. Some platforms are designed for older teenagers or adults, so the safety tools may not be strong enough for younger children, especially where private messaging, livestreaming, adult content, location sharing or payment features are available.

Parents may also feel reassured because they use the same platform themselves and have not experienced harm. However, children often use platforms differently from adults. They may accept friend requests to increase followers, join group chats, use pseudonyms, follow trends, enter private gaming servers, respond to dares, use disappearing messages or move conversations between apps. A platform can feel familiar to adults but still create different risks for children because of age, confidence, peer pressure, loneliness, curiosity, neurodiversity, SEND, trauma, isolation or limited understanding of grooming.

Examples of How Children Get Around Age Limits and Safety Settings

• Entering an older date of birth when creating an account.
• Creating a second account using a different email address or phone number.
• Using a nickname, pseudonym or “finsta” style account, meaning a fake or private Instagram account used alongside their main account.
• Using a parent’s, sibling’s or friend’s device to access restricted apps.
• Accessing platforms through a web browser when the app is restricted.
• Deleting and reinstalling apps after checks have taken place.
• Using “vanish mode”, disappearing messages, hidden folders, archived chats or cleared search history.
• Turning off location sharing when adults are checking, then turning it back on later.
• Using gaming voice chat, private servers or party chat to continue conversations away from visible social media.
• Moving from a more visible platform to a more private or adult platform when asked by someone online.

Parent reminder: A child being able to use a platform does not mean the platform is suitable for their age, maturity or vulnerability. Age limits, privacy settings and parental controls reduce risk, but they do not replace adult curiosity, regular conversations and checking whether the child is using hidden accounts, extra devices, gaming chat or browser access.

Popularity, Public Accounts and Grooming Risk

Groomers and people who want to exploit children often know where to “lurk”. They understand which platforms children use, what language is popular, which games or influencers are trending, and how to make contact feel casual or harmless. They may use the same slang, emojis, memes, music, gaming references or platform lingo as children so they appear familiar, safe or “one of them”. This can make it harder for children to recognise risk, especially when the contact begins with compliments, likes, shares, gaming help, gifts, in-game currency or attention.

Many children and young people also want to be noticed, followed and liked. For some, popularity online can feel powerful and addictive. Keeping an account public may feel like the fastest way to gain followers, views, likes, comments or status with peers. This is why simply saying “make your account private” may not work. Parents need to understand what the public account gives the child emotionally: attention, belonging, validation, confidence, identity, connection or the feeling of being important.

How to talk about private settings when popularity feels important: Start with curiosity rather than criticism. For example: “I can see why having followers feels exciting. Help me understand what you like about your account being public.” Then gently explain that a private account is not about stopping them being social; it is about choosing who gets access to them. A helpful message is: “Popularity should not cost you your privacy, your safety or your peace of mind.”

• Ask what they gain from a public account: followers, comments, confidence, status, belonging or opportunities.
• Explain that unknown followers are not the same as real friends, even if they like posts or send positive messages.
• Agree a safer compromise, such as a private account with approved followers only, no location tags and no unknown direct messages.
• Talk about “digital doors”: a public account leaves the door open to everyone, while a private account lets the child choose who is invited in.
• Review followers together and ask: “Do you know this person in real life? Would you be comfortable with them seeing where you go, who you are with and what matters to you?”
• Explain that groomers may use compliments, shared interests, humour, gaming language or popularity to build trust before asking for secrecy, images, location or a move to another app.
• Make it clear that the child can still be creative, social and confident online while keeping stronger privacy boundaries.

Practical Parental Control Checklist

1. Know every platform: Ask your child to show you all apps, games, accounts and usernames they use.
2. Set accounts to private: Private settings reduce unwanted contact but do not remove all risk.
3. Check friend and follower lists: Ask who people are in real life and remove unknown contacts.
4. Turn off location sharing: Review Snap Map, Instagram location tags, device location settings and game location features.
5. Limit messaging: Restrict direct messages to friends only and block unknown users from contacting your child.
6. Use built-in family tools: Use options such as Family Pairing, Family Centre, console family settings and screen-time limits.
7. Control spending: Require a password for purchases and turn off automatic payments where possible.
8. Agree device-free times: Bedrooms overnight are high-risk because supervision is lower and children may be tired, lonely or more vulnerable to pressure.
9. Check settings regularly: Children can change settings, so review them together at least monthly.
10. Keep the conversation open: Make it clear your child will not be in trouble for telling you something worrying has happened online.

Conversation Starters for Parents

• “Who do you speak to most online, and how do you know they are who they say they are?”
• “Has anyone ever asked you to keep a chat secret?”
• “Has anyone asked you to move to another app or private server?”
• “What would you do if someone asked for a photo, video, location or personal information?”
• “Have you ever seen something online that upset you, scared you or made you feel pressured?”
• “Can we look at your privacy settings together so I understand how the app works?”

Warning Signs That Need Attention

• Becoming secretive, anxious or angry when asked about their phone, console or online friends.
• Receiving messages at unusual times, including late at night or during school hours.
• Sudden changes in mood, sleep, school attendance, friendships or behaviour.
• Having multiple accounts, unknown contacts or unexplained new apps.
• Talking about older friends, online relationships or people parents have never met.
• Receiving gifts, game currency, money, vapes, lifts or other unexplained items.
• Being pressured to send images, meet someone, keep secrets or continue conversations that feel uncomfortable.
• Being threatened, blackmailed or told images will be shared.

Action you can take to make platforms safer

Safety Actions on Popular Platforms

Platform	What children may use it for	Main risks	Parent safety actions
Instagram	Photos, reels, stories, direct messages, livestreams and “finsta” or private side accounts.	Unknown followers, private messaging, sexualised content, body image pressure, bullying, fake accounts, disappearing messages, location tags and movement to other apps.	Set account to private, review followers and following, check direct message settings, restrict comments, turn off activity status, review story settings, check tagged posts and discuss any second accounts.
Snapchat	Images, videos, streaks, disappearing messages, stories and Snap Map.	Disappearing content, pressure to keep streaks, hidden conversations, location sharing, grooming, image-based abuse and sextortion.	Use Ghost Mode, check friend lists, discuss screenshots and disappearing messages, use Family Centre where available and agree that unknown contacts are removed.
TikTok	Short videos, livestreams, comments, direct messages and trends.	Algorithmic exposure to harmful content, adult or sexualised content, bullying, viral challenges, livestream contact and pressure to copy risky trends.	Use Family Pairing, set account to private, restrict comments and messages, set screen-time limits, filter keywords and review liked, saved and watched content.
X / Twitter	News, trends, public posts, direct messages and adult discussions.	Adult content, pornography, violent content, hate speech, misinformation, direct messages from unknown adults and exposure to extreme views.	Check whether the child has an account, review privacy and message settings, restrict sensitive content where possible and discuss why adult spaces are not suitable for children.
Discord	Gaming communities, group chats, servers, private messages, voice and video chat.	Unmoderated servers, adult content, grooming, extremist material, private messages and movement into hidden groups.	Review servers, restrict direct messages, check friend settings, leave unsafe servers and agree regular checks of communities and usernames.
WhatsApp / Telegram	Messaging, group chats, media sharing and voice notes.	Large group chats, forwarding images, unknown numbers, disappearing messages, encrypted conversations and difficulty monitoring content.	Review group membership, restrict profile visibility, discuss unknown numbers, turn off disappearing messages where possible and agree that concerning contacts are blocked and reported.
OnlyFans and adult subscription sites	Adult paid content and creator subscriptions.	Adult sexual content, financial exploitation, grooming, pressure to create or share sexual images and normalisation of adult content.	Make clear this is not a child platform, use device-level restrictions, block adult sites, check payment methods and talk about consent, coercion, image-sharing and exploitation.
Omegle-style random chat sites	Random video or text chats with strangers.	Immediate contact with unknown adults, sexual exposure, coercion, recording, threats and grooming. Some original sites may close, but similar copycat services can appear.	Block random chat sites, discuss why “stranger chat” is high risk, check browser history and talk about what to do if someone exposes themselves or asks for images.
Roblox	Games, avatars, chat, private servers, building worlds and in-game spending.	Contact from strangers, private servers, voice or text chat, inappropriate games, pressure to spend Robux and movement to other apps.	Set age restrictions, disable or limit chat, review friends, check private servers, set spending controls and play together occasionally to understand the spaces used.
Fortnite / Minecraft / online console games	Multiplayer gaming, parties, private worlds, voice chat and in-game purchases.	Voice chat with unknown people, bullying, private invitations, excessive play, spending pressure and movement to external apps such as Discord or Snapchat.	Limit voice chat, restrict friend requests, approve purchases, set play-time limits and keep consoles in shared spaces where possible.
PlayStation Network / Xbox Live / Nintendo Switch Online	Gaming profiles, friend lists, messages, parties and voice chat.	Unknown contacts, private messaging, party chat, in-game spending, harassment and use of consoles to bypass phone restrictions.	Use console family settings, restrict communication, approve friend requests, set spending limits and check whether the console is being used for messaging.
Twitch / YouTube / livestreaming	Watching streamers, comments, live chat and creating content.	Live interaction with adults, donations, inappropriate comments, exposure to adult humour, grooming through fan communities and pressure to perform online.	Use restricted mode where available, supervise livestreaming, disable or restrict comments and chat, and agree that children should not livestream from bedrooms.
VR platforms and immersive games	Virtual worlds, avatars, voice chat and immersive interaction.	Harms can feel more intense because children experience them through avatars and immersive spaces. Risks include grooming, sexualised behaviour, bullying, hate speech and poor adult supervision.	Supervise use closely, restrict voice chat, check friends and rooms, limit use to shared spaces and discuss what is and is not appropriate in virtual worlds.

Awareness Snapshot: What Parents Need to Know About Online Grooming and Harm

• Online harm is not rare or limited to “obvious” danger sites. Children’s social lives increasingly sit across phones, apps, games, livestreams, group chats and private messages.
• Ofcom research cited in the evidence pack found that 96% of children aged 5 to 7 in the UK go online, rising to more than 99% of children aged 12 to 15.
• Nearly 7 in 10 children in the UK use online services to help them feel closer to their friends, which means online contact can feel emotionally important and difficult to step away from.
• National evidence shows that online harms can include cyberbullying, sexual harassment, intimate image abuse, exposure to harmful sexual content, online radicalisation, grooming, coercion and exploitation.
• Police force data cited in the online harm material recorded 7,062 sexual communication with a child offences in 2023 to 2024, an 89% increase since 2017 to 2018.
• NSPCC research cited in the Snapchat briefing found an 82% rise in online grooming crimes against children over five years, with 73% involving Snapchat or Meta-linked platforms.
• The online harm material identifies Snapchat as a platform commonly associated with online grooming concerns, because disappearing messages, image sharing, Snap Map, streaks and private contact can make adult oversight more difficult.
• The evidence pack highlights that online gaming spaces, including Roblox and Discord-style communities, can create opportunities for social bonding, grooming and movement into more private spaces.
• Virtual reality and immersive platforms can increase risk because children experience interaction through avatars, voice chat and virtual spaces where adult supervision may be limited.
• Children may not disclose harm straight away. They may feel embarrassed, afraid of losing their phone, worried they will be blamed, or threatened by the person contacting them.

Key message for parents: The risk is not only the platform itself, but how the platform is used. Grooming often starts with ordinary contact: a like, compliment, follow, game invite, private message, shared interest, joke, gift, in-game currency or request to move to another app.

🚩 Grooming may start with...	What parents can say
A like, compliment, follow or game invite	“It is okay to enjoy attention, but let’s check who is behind it.”
A request to keep a chat secret	“Safe adults do not ask children to hide conversations.”
A gift, in-game currency or offer of help	“If someone gives you something online, we need to understand why.”
A move to another app, private server or video chat	“Moving platforms can be a warning sign, so let’s pause and check.”

Savvy Ways Children May Navigate Around Adult Oversight

• Creating second or “backup” accounts that parents do not know about.
• Using fake names, nicknames or avatars so adults cannot easily identify contacts.
• Deleting messages, using disappearing messages, clearing search history or hiding apps in folders.
• Moving conversations from a visible platform to a more private app, group chat, gaming server or livestream.
• Using another child’s device, an old phone, a sibling’s account or a browser instead of the app.
• Turning location sharing on and off depending on who they want to see their location.
• Using private servers, invite-only groups or voice chat where parents cannot easily see what is being said.
• Changing privacy settings back after an adult has checked them.
• Using coded language, emojis, initials, memes or slang to hide the meaning of conversations.

Minimising concerns by saying “it is just gaming”, “everyone does it” or “they are my age” when the person has not been verified.

If Something Has Happened Online

• Stay calm: Children are more likely to disclose if they believe adults will help rather than punish.
• Do not blame the child: The responsibility sits with the person who exploited, pressured or harmed them.
• Do not delete evidence: Keep usernames, messages, images, screenshots, dates and platform details where it is safe to do so.
• Block and report: Use the platform’s reporting tools and block the account after evidence is preserved.
• Seek help quickly: Contact school, police, children’s social care or a safeguarding professional if there are concerns about grooming, exploitation, threats, sexual communication, blackmail or planned meetings.
• For nude or sexual images: Children and young people can use Childline’s Report Remove service to request help removing images from the internet.
• For online sexual abuse concerns: Reports can be made to CEOP through the National Crime Agency reporting route.

Simple rule for parents: If a platform allows private messaging, livestreaming, location sharing, anonymous contact, adult content, payments, voice chat or private groups, it needs active supervision rather than trust in age limits alone.