Social media platforms

Instagram is a social networking platform for sharing content. Users can post photos, stories (which show for 24 hours), and reels (short-form videos) to their profiles, tag others, leave comments, and send direct messages. 

If the account is set to private, only approved users can see your profile and content. You can link your Instagram account with Facebook and synchronise the content you post. 

Resources

• What is Instagram - Understand how people use Instagram and tips to keep your information safe. (reading time - 8 minutes)
• Tips for Parents - Learn everything you need to know as parents, from privacy settings to safety tips and reporting options. (reading time  - 15 minutes)  
• Make your Instagram account private - Follow 4 easy steps to change your child's Instagram account to private (reading time - 2 minutes) 
• Create an Instagram account - Learn how to create an account with and without a Facebook account. (reading time - 5 minutes)

Snapchat is a messaging app that allows users to send pictures, videos and messages that disappear after a short time. The app offers many fun features to enhance images, including filters, lenses, stickers and drawing tools.  

You can also create stories on Snapchat, which are collections of Snaps that last 24 hours. Another popular feature is SnapMap, which enables users to see what's happening in different places around the world and add hashtags.  

Snapchat's Family Center is an excellent tool for parents to keep an eye on their teens' Snapchat activity, check privacy settings, manage controls, and report any concerns. 

Resources 

• What is Snapchat? - Understand how people use Snapchat and tips to keep your information safe. (reading time - 8 minutes)
• Tools and Resources for Parents - Get started on Family Center, follow the step-by-step guide to sign up for it, and check out the safety checklist for parents. (reading time - 8 minutes)
• Report Abuse - Learn how to report abuse or illegal content on Snapchat. (reading time - 8 minutes)

TikTok is about creating and sharing awesome videos. You can easily add music and edit videos. It's very popular among teens and young adults because of all the entertaining content and challenges. A popular dance challenge video can quickly get over a million views per minute!  

It also has other features like live streaming, direct messaging, and gaming. For parents, a feature called Family Pairing lets you link your account to your kid's and set some parental controls.  

Resources

• What is TikTok? - Understand how people use TikTok and tips to keep your information safe. (reading time - 8 minutes)
• User Safety - Jump to the "Family Pairing" section to learn how to set up parental controls. (reading time - 12 minutes)
• Guardian's Guide - Learn details about how TikTok keeps its users safe. (reading time - 15 minutes)

Facebook Messenger is a messaging tool that offers various interactive features, such as sharing photos, playing games, and using emojis and filters during chats. Many businesses also use Messenger for customer service, offering a live chat option on their Facebook profiles. 

To chat on the app, users need to be friends with each other on Facebook, or the chat will appear in the request window instead of the inbox. This feature can help ensure your child only communicates with approved friends. You can also manage message requests and block unwanted contacts. 

If you already have a Facebook account, you can use the Parent Dashboard to manage your child's Messenger account.  

Resources

• What is Facebook Messenger? - Understand how people use Messenger and tips to keep your information safe. (reading time - 8 minutes)
• How do I manage my child's Messenger Kids account? Follow the steps to set up the Parent Dashboard. (reading time - 2 minutes)

WhatsApp is a messaging app that allows users to send text and voice messages, share media files securely, and create group chats. Users need a phone number to sign up.  

WhatsApp is a popular messaging app that keeps conversations secure with end-to-end encryption. Users can send text and voice messages, create group chats, and share multimedia files. The user interface is very simple to navigate!  

All you need to sign up is a phone number, and if your friends are already in your contacts, you can find them in the app and start the chat easily.  

Resources 

• What is WhatsApp - Understand how people use WhatsApp and tips to keep your information safe. (reading time - 8 minutes)
• How to stay safe on WhatsApp - Read all the important information to help your teen use WhatsApp safely. (reading time - 3 minutes)

YouTube is a streaming platform where you can watch all sorts of videos, such as educational content, movies, music, and vlogs. Users can connect with others by subscribing to other channels (YouTubers), liking, and commenting on videos, and even posting their own videos. These videos can be set to public or private, depending on who you want to share them with. 

For young children, there's YouTube Kids, an app designed for them to watch age-appropriate content. 

Resources

• What is YouTube? - Understand how people use YouTube and tips to keep your information safe. (reading time - 8 minutes)
• Parental Controls - Learn all the options and controls you can set up for your child. (reading time - 5 minutes)