Social Media and Streaming Apps

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world. From understanding, translating, analyzing and making recommendations to create content like text, images and audio, this tool has changed the way many people use their technology. But they "pose unacceptable risks to teens and children under 18, including encouraging harmful behaviours, providing inappropriate content and potentially exacerbating mental health conditions." (Source: Common Sense Media)

What are AI Companions/Chatbots?

AI companions are a new category of technology that goes beyond simple chatbots. Unlike AI tools like ChatGPT, which are designed to complete tasks, these apps are specifically designed to:

• Build emotional connections and personal relationships with the user
• Remember past interactions and adjust to preferences
• Role-play as friends, mentors, or romantic partners
• Mimic emotions and “show” empathy

"Despite claims of alleviating loneliness and boosting creativity, the risks far outweigh any potential benefits. These systems easily produce harmful content including sexual misconduct, stereotypes, and suicide/self-harm encouragement.” (Source: Common Sense Media)

Popular platforms include:

• Snapchat My AI (hyperlink this to our SnapChat section in toolkit)
• Character.ai
• Replika
• Kindroid and Nomi

Resources:

• Social AI Companions - Common Sense Media

Instagram is a visual social media platform where teens share photos, videos, and messages to connect with friends, follow influencers, and explore trends. It serves as a space for self-expression, entertainment, and shaping their online identity.

Safety Risks:

• Instagram automatically creates "teen accounts" (13-17 years) with built-in safety features, though teens who signed up at 18+ before Septeber 2024 may still have unrestricted adult accounts.  
• The platform now requires age verification via video selfie or ID for most new users, but teens might bypass it with false information. 
• Its algorithm quickly learns what engages teens, potentially exposing them to concerning content and many maintain hidden "Finsta" accounts to view or share unfiltered content.  
• In January 2025, Meta ended third-party fact-checking and loosened hate speech and abuse rules on its platforms. 

What You Can Do:

• Discuss digital footprints, future impacts, and balancing creative expression with online safety. 
• Set up Teen Account features together and review each safety setting.
• Keep accounts private, manage followers via Family Center, and use "Close Friends" for safer sharing.
• Start with strict message controls, easing as responsibility grows.
• Regularly talk with your teen about their online behaviour, how to spot red flags of inappropriate online interactions, and what to do if they encounter them. 

Source: Parents' Ultimate Guide to Instagram - Common Sense Media

Resources:

• Helping Your Teen Navigate Instagram Safely - Instagram

Quick Tips Video: What is Snapchat?

Snapchat lets users send disappearing photos, videos, and messages, view creator content, post to Spotlight, use Snap Map, and chat with an AI bot. Although users must be 13+, ages are self-reported and can be falsified.

Its disappearing messages have led to sexting concerns, and some content includes explicit language, sexual material, violence and other harms.

Safety Risks:

• Snapchat’s disappearing messages make it easier to hide bullying or inappropriate contact, while features like Stories, Spotlight and Snap Map can expose teens to strangers, risky behavior, or inappropriate content.
• It’s an open platform by default, meaning anyone can message your teen.
• AI features can be used to manipulate images. Users can exploit AI-generated image features to make compromising pictures. SnapChat defaults all users to AI Companion and can only be turned off 2 ways: Snap Chat+ (premium account), or as a parent enrolled in Family Center you can restrict your teen’s access to My AI.
• Family Center provides limited oversight: parents can view security settings, basic messaging activity and request location information, but cannot read messages, fully restrict content, or control notifications from their own device.

What You Can Do:

• Monitor friend lists and discuss who they’re connecting with, especially if their account is public. Set up Family Center.
• Ongoing conversation is the strongest safeguard. No settings can fully prevent contact with strangers or exposure to inappropriate content. Regularly talk with your teen about their online behaviour, how to spot red flags of inappropriate online interactions, and what to do if they encounter them. 
• Change your child’s account from public to private and that the Snap Map sharing location is turned off. 

Source: Parents' Ultimate Guide: How to Set Parent Controls on Snapchat - Common Sense Media

Resources: 

• Family Center - Snapchat
• Super Scary Snapchat AI and Other AI Chatbot Companions - Screenagers

§ Quick Tips Video: What is TikTok?

Tik Tok is a video-sharing app that has changed how teenagers make and watch content. It has become one of the most influential apps. It provides endless scrolling of short videos, lasting from 15 seconds to 10 minutes. This system aims to keep users, especially youth, engaged and spend more time on the app. The platform's algorithm can also expose teens to harmful misinformation and extreme viewpoints. 

Safety Risks:

• Content: Teens can easily encounter sexual content, explicit music, violence, harmful stereotypes, and risky challenges, often encouraged by trends. TikTok’s algorithm may also surface content on self-harm, eating disorders, and other topics that may impact safety.
• Communication with Strangers: As with Instagram, teens on TikTok can be contacted by strangers via direct messages or comments. Oversharing personal information in videos or comments can lead to harassment or dangerous situations including sexual exploitation.

What You Can Do:

• Family Pairing lets parents set screen time limits, comment and messaging controls, content filters, privacy settings, and notifications.
  • It also alerts parents if teens log out or switch accounts, helping prevent teens from bypassing parental controls, which on many social platforms can be easily avoided by creating multiple accounts.
• Discuss digital footprints, future impacts, and balancing creative expression with online safety.
• Teach your teen to spot red flags of inappropriate online interactions and what to do if they encounter them. 

Source: Parents’ Ultimate Guide: How to Set Parent Controls on TikTok- Common Sense Media

Resources:

• TikTok Parental Controls (Step-by-Step Guide) - Internet Matters

Quick Video: What are Vault Apps?

Sometimes called vault, anonymous or hidden apps. Hidden apps allow youth to conceal data, images and even other apps on their phone. Vault apps are used by using the icon of another app such as a calculator, camera or notes. 

Resources:

• Hidden Apps and Vaults: How Kids Can Hide Content on Phones - Bark

WhatsApp lets kids and teens message, call, and share photos or videos for free with anyone who also uses the app. It automatically connects to people in their phone’s contacts and encourages them to invite others. Users can also post disappearing photos, videos, and GIFs through the Status feature, similar to Instagram or Snapchat Stories.

Safety Risks:

• Cyberbullying: Messages, group chats, or Status updates can be used to harass.
• Stranger contact: Kids may be reached through contacts or invites.
• Inappropriate content: Photos, videos, or GIFs may be unsuitable.

What You Can Do:

• Parental controls are limited but privacy settings can be tightened — including two step verification with a PIN, limiting who can see profile details, and turning off location sharing.

Source: Parents’ Guide to WhatsApp Messenger - Common Sense Media

Users  watch videos on various interests, create and upload content, and interact with creators on YouTube. YouTube Kids is designed for kids under 13 years of age and offers age-appropriate videos, music, and shows. Parents can curate content and set screen time limits. 

Safety Risks:

• Content: Despite safeguards, videos can include racist, sexual, violent, or mature content. YouTube limits violent pranks and disinformation, but search can still expose kids to harmful material. Check watch history and subscriptions to monitor viewing.
• Livestreams, Messaging and Comments: Communication with Strangers: Kids under 13 can watch YouTube Kids livestreams but cannot chat or comment. Teens 13–17 can watch most livestreams, join chats, and comment. Messaging is blocked for users with accurate birthdates.
• Content Creation: For teens 13–17 with real birthdates, uploaded videos are private by default. Restricted accounts also keep uploads private. Posting content can expose teens to cyberbullying and pressure to gain likes and followers, which may affect self-esteem.

What You Can Do:

• Check watch history and subscriptions to monitor viewing.
• Turning off autoplay and using real birthdays are simple first steps to activate safety features.
• Teens 13–17, with age-appropriate accounts, have limited access to inappropriate content and built-in protections.

Source: Parents’ Ultimate Guide: How to Set Parent Controls on YouTube - Common Sense Media

Resources:

• MyFamily: Discover Age-Appropriate Ways For Your Kids, Pre-Teens and Teens to Explore YouTube - YouTube