Is Signal safe for kids?

Low risk

Excellent privacy-first messenger; appropriate for teens and up with adult oversight.

How that verdict changes by age

Not recommended · Below the app's own minimum age (13+)
- Is Signal safe for a 6–9-year-old?
Handle with care · Below the app's own minimum age (13+)
- Is Signal safe for a 10–12-year-old?
Handle with care · Right at the app's minimum age (13+)
- Is Signal safe for a 13–15-year-old?
Handle with care · Messages disappear — nothing to review later
- Is Signal safe for a 16+-year-old?

Quick facts
Minimum age	13
Strangers can contact	No
Location sharing	No
Disappearing messages	Yes
Parental visibility	Limited

What to do

Fine for 13+, excellent for 16+. The privacy features are genuinely strong, but parents should remind teens that encryption protects the app itself, not against misuse (bullying, sharing inappropriate content with peers). Good choice for family communication or teen independence.

Check Signal against your kid’s other appsTakes about a minute →

What it actually is

Signal is a free messaging app built around privacy and encryption. It lets users send texts, photos, videos, voice and video calls, and share Stories — all end-to-end encrypted so the company can't access your conversations. It's run as a nonprofit with no ads or data collection.

Signal offers granular privacy controls: disable read receipts, control who can message you and add you to groups, manage group-chat permissions (who can post, who is admin), and set Story visibility per recipient. Disappearing messages can be toggled per conversation. Parents concerned about contact should review the app's settings menu together with their teen.

Next: check Signal against your kid's other apps →