Is Threads safe for children? Instagram’s new Twitter-like app

In a surprising turn of events, Meta has made a move to rival one of the biggest social media platforms since its release. To introduce some competition to Elon Musk’s app, Instagram has released Threads, their Twitter-like app that aims to be bigger and better than Twitter. With the release of a new app, parents and guardians are wondering: is Threads safe for children? Here is all you need to know about Threads, the new Twitter-like app from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

What is Instagram’s new app, Threads?

The new Threads app from Instagram aims to provide a platform for text-based conversations. Here, users can post short text posts while also having the ability to attach links, images, and videos up to five minutes in length. Sounds familiar, right? Well, that’s exactly what Threads is: Twitter’s newest rival.

With how many problems are arising for Twitter now that it is under Elon Musk’s ownership, Mark Zuckerberg is swooping in to capitalize on these. Instagram’s Threads aims to be an alternative to Twitter or other apps centered on text-based discussions.

Joining the new app is simple: all you have to do is log in using your Instagram account. From there, Threads will use your Instagram username. You can also customize your profile as soon as you are registered. This means anyone with an Instagram account can join its new text-focused app.

Is it safe for children?

As with all new app releases, parents and guardians find themselves asking if it will be safe for their children to access it. If we look at Instagram’s terms and conditions, users should be at least 13 years old to create an account.

• This also depends on some countries’ jurisdictions, as the eligible age may be higher than 13.
• On the other hand, there is an exception for users under the age of 13 if they want to join Instagram. The parent, guardian, or manager should state in the account bio that they are handling the account.

Threads will follow the same terms of service as Instagram since they are both under Meta. This means that users over the age of 13 can use the app. However, parents or guardians must monitor their children’s online activity to ensure their safety.

Courtesy of @TitterDaily via Twitter

For those worried that their children may be exposed to this kind of content, you can breathe a sigh of relief now. Compared to Twitter, Instagram is stricter on NSFW (not safe for work) content. Meta has also clarified that Instagram accounts registered to users under the age of 13 will have their accounts automatically set to private.

What threats can children be exposed to when using Threads or other similar apps?

That being said, it’s still better to be safe than sorry. Even though there are terms and conditions in place for an app like Threads, there are risks that come along with it for users of all ages, especially children.

They may be at risk of the following:

• Harassment & Cyberbullying: This is one of the most prevalent problems when going on the Internet and using social media apps. Since Threads allows its users to interact with others, you or your children may receive unwanted interactions from others.
• Seeing NSFW or Harmful Posts: Although we mentioned that Meta is stricter regarding NSFW content, there are still chances for these kinds of posts to appear on Threads. Aside from NSFW content, some posts may contain harmful words like hate speech or misinformation. It’s best to monitor your children’s online activity, especially if they are using an app like Threads.

Threads may provide risks to children using the app. It’s important for parents and guardians to let children consume online media moderately. Have you tried Threads out yet? What are your initial thoughts? Will it be a better and safer alternative to Twitter? Feel free to discuss this with us in the comments below.