Threads
Watch riskRated Watch · How we rate
Instagram's text feed — your kid's Threads account IS their Instagram account, so it inherits that audience and those risks wholesale.
| Minimum age | 13 |
|---|---|
| Strangers can contact | Yes |
| Location sharing | No |
| Disappearing messages | No |
| Parental visibility | Limited |
Threads is Meta's Twitter-style text app, bolted directly to Instagram: same login, same followers, same public-by-default exposure. That means an algorithmic feed of strangers' posts, open replies and DMs, and a heavy dose of news and outrage content. Locking down the linked Instagram account — private, restricted DMs — is what actually controls Threads.
Content Control:
- Toggle who can reply to your posts (Everyone, Followers, or Mentioned only)
- Toggle who can mention you
- Use "Hidden Words" to filter out posts/replies containing words or phrases you choose
- Control post visibility (public or private)
Privacy & Safety:
- Review and manage who can message you (1:1 and group DMs available)
- Mute or block accounts
- Report posts or accounts that violate community guidelines
Linked Accounts:
- Threads is tied to Instagram and Meta accounts; adjust linked account settings in Instagram Settings
Other apps to know about
Azar: Chat, Meet Friends
Watch riskStranger-chat app with moderation; risky for under-16, monitor closely for older teens.
Bluesky Social
Watch riskA Twitter-style app with unusually strong user-side moderation controls — but it's public and open by default, with adult content present.
Clapper: Video, Live, Chat
Watch riskA TikTok alternative that markets itself on 'no censorship' and skews adult — fewer content guardrails, more strangers, real-money tipping.
Updated June 2026
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