Although it began as a messaging service, Line is now regarded as a “super app” by its hundreds of millions of users in Asia thanks to its multifunctionality. In Japan, Line has 96 million users – over 78% of the total population. The app is also deeply integrated into the everyday lives of people in Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia. It might not be as popular among kids globally as other messaging apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat, but in Japan and other parts of Asia, Line is king of the communication apps across all age groups. While it does have some safety features, Line is not primarily marketed as a kids’ app and so may pose safety risks parents should be aware of.

What can kids do on Line?

Line: key risks parents need to know

Making Line safer for teens

• Turn off “Allow others to add by ID” to stop users from being able to search for and connect with your child via their Line ID. This option is automatically turned off for users under 18 in Japan.

• Turn off “Allow others to add by phone number” to prevent strangers from adding your child if they have their number.
• Turn off “Receive messages from non-friends” to block messages from strangers. 
• On Line Voom, set “Who can view” to “Only me” or “Friends” to restrict who can interact with your teen’s posts.

Although these features may help keep your teen safe on Line, they are not a substitute for trust and open conversation – as your child can simply revert these settings without your knowledge. 

• Block the Line app from being opened
• Monitor the time your teen spends on Line
• Set usage limits
• Receive an alert when the app is first opened
• Pause internet access at the push of a button.

Line may be primarily a communication app, but its wide range of features – including timelines, video sharing, games, live streaming, and more – has helped it earn the reputation of a “super app” in Japan and across Asia, where it is hugely popular. This popularity stretches to include kids and teenagers who seem to especially enjoy Line’s social media-like features, stickers, and games.

Without proper parental controls, Line can expose young users to risks common to communication and social media apps, such as predation, cyberbullying, and inappropriate content. However, by having open conversations, adjusting privacy settings, and using parental monitoring tools, you can help your teenager stay safe on the popular communication app. 

Edits is a free photo and video-editing app aimed at content creators posting on social media – particularly Instagram, the makers behind the Edits app. Designed to take on its rival TikTok’s CapCut, Edits lets creators use a range of creative tools not found in the original Instagram app, to design and build content from the comfort of their own phone. Edits also offers analytics tools for users to track video performance, gearing the app towards more serious content creators over casual users.

What can kids do on Edits?

Instagram’s feed has long changed since the days of sharing oversaturated pictures of avocado toast – the social sharing app’s main focus has shifted to Reels, Instagram’s version of short-form videos, which now dominate the user experience on most successful social platforms. Instagram’s rival, TikTok, provides users with an extensive suite of tools within the app, along with a standalone studio, CapCut, letting creators and dabblers create videos on their phone in a short space of time. Instagram’s Edits hopes to level the playing field, offering what the Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, calls “a full suite of creative tools”. On Edits, you can:

• Keep track of ideas and drafts in one space
• Create videos with better tools than those found in the Instagram app, like a higher quality camera, video cutouts, and animation with integrated AI
• Share drafts and ideas with friends or other creators
• Use a wider library of fonts, animations, music, and filters
• Explore other users’ videos in an “Inspiration” feed
• Check analytics tools to understand video performance, if sharing within Instagram
• Download your final creation, watermark-free, to your camera roll

To use Edits, you first need an Instagram account, which means that in accordance with Instagram’s Teen Accounts and policies, it’s restricted to age 13+. 

Instagram Edits: the risks parents need to know

Making Edits safer for teens

If your child isn’t old enough to have their own Instagram account, they shouldn’t be using Edits, as the app requires Instagram to be able to create and experiment. Depending on the country, Instagram requires users to be at least 13 before opening an account, and under-18s will automatically be streamed into a more teen-appropriate experience through their Teen Accounts feature.

Video apps like Edits can be a great way to encourage teens to get creative, as long as they’re using the app in a responsible way. Get to know Edits’ features, and explore the ways that your child can create content, especially because through Edits, you don’t actually have to post the end product to social media. You could create videos as a family, or show them how to use the tools to create videos about their hobbies and interests.

If your child does share videos to social media, or any content, it’s important for them to share responsibly. Talk to your child about the importance of never revealing personal information or information that can help identify their name and location, such as school uniform, street name, or similar. Even if your child’s account is private, this still rings true, as anything online can be shared through screenshots or spoken about in group chats. Make sure your child also understands what online consent looks like – for their friendship group, for example, sharing photos and videos might be OK, but when sharing pictures of minors, it’s important to always get consent.

In today’s world, despite restrictions and proposals affecting how minors use these channels, social media is relatively inescapable. Even if your teen doesn’t use social media now, the chances are that in the future, they will. Help them make sense of social media and talk about its role in their life. Teaching our teens to verify information, think critically about the content they see online, and how to interact with others when they explore chats, comments, and other internet spaces, will help set them up to be better digital citizens in the future.

With some ground rules and understanding of the app’s features, Instagram’s Edits tool can be an opportunity for your teen to explore their creativity, especially if they’re not sharing videos on Instagram itself. Setting daily use limits on apps like Edits can help to bring balance to teens’ digital activity, especially if you notice increased amounts of time spent on the app. However, if your child is active on social media, proceed with more caution, communicating with them about building a positive relationship with social media, understanding how the algorithm works, and the dangers that the platforms can pose.

There are many reasons why someone might want the privacy and untraceability of a second, secret phone – often called a burner phone. While there are legitimate and practical uses, the term usually brings to mind unfaithful partners, drug dealers, and other shady characters.

But what about your own child?

Faced with their parents’ monitoring and screen time restrictions, a teenager might resort to buying secret, second phones to covertly continue their online social lives. The obvious risks of a child secretly using an unrestricted, untraceable device make burner phones yet another digital concern for parents to be vigilant about.

What is a burner phone?

A burner phone, sometimes called a “burner,” is typically a prepaid phone that can be purchased cheaply at mass retailers like Walmart or Target. They are typically purchased with cash, come with prepaid minutes (pay-as-you-go), and don’t require a contract with a service provider or need any form of legal identification verification at the point of sale. The term “burner phone” comes from the fact that these phones are often discarded, or “burnt” after they’ve served their purpose.

Thanks to references in pop culture, burner phones have earned a reputation for their role in criminal activities, such as in the TV series Breaking Bad, as well as being a symbol of secrecy in extramarital affairs, as seen in Desperate Housewives. Burner phones are often used for shady activities, but they have legitimate purposes too. For example, journalists and undercover law enforcement agents might use burner phones to protect their identity and avoid being tracked, while travelers to high-crime areas might use one during their trip to avoid losing their main phone.   

Burner phones don’t have to be cheap, basic phones either; you can easily get prepaid Android phones, iPhones, and other smartphones.

What are trap phones?

A term mostly used in U.S. rap and street culture, a trap phone is a type of burner phone, more commonly associated with drug dealing. The term “trap” comes from “trap house,” a residence used for selling drugs.

Other names for a burner phone include a prepaid phone, disposable phone, throwaway phone, ghost phone, and side phone.

Are burner phones legal?

Burner phones are legal in most countries; they are just prepaid, disposable phones that can be purchased without a contract or identification verification. As long as they’re not used for criminal activities, there’s no legal issue with owning or using a burner phone.

Some countries, however, have strict regulations that make it hard to buy or use a burner phone. For example, in India, Russia, and China, SIM cards must be registered with governmental authorities.

Why might my child be using a burner phone?

If your child is hiding a second phone from you, chances are they’re not using it for legitimate reasons. Here are a few motives they might have for owning and using a burner phone – some more concerning than others. 

As a backup if their main phone is taken away

It’s common for parents to threaten to confiscate their children’s phones as punishment or to enforce screen time limits. In response, kids might prepare themselves by keeping a burner phone.

To get around parental controls

If you’ve installed parental control tools like Qustodio on your child’s device, they might use a burner phone to continue their online activities without the monitoring and safeguards you’ve put in place – such as screen time limits or app blocking.

To keep their social lives secret

While at times it can be frustrating for parents, it’s normal for teenagers to seek privacy and be tight-lipped about their social lives. Some might even use a secret phone to keep in touch with friends and love interests – away from the watchful eyes of parents or monitoring tools.   

To cyberbully or engage in risky online behavior 

Although we don’t like to imagine our kids causing harm to others, it can happen, and a burner phone allows them to bully or spread hate with less risk of being caught. If you think your child might be harassing others online, take a look at this insightful article by child psychologist Dr. Beurkens: My child is a cyberbully: What should I do?

A burner phone could also be used to hide inappropriate, and potentially dangerous,  relationships from parents and, in extreme cases, to engage in illegal activities like buying drugs. 

How to find out if someone has a burner phone

Since a burner phone is meant to be kept secret, it’s unlikely that your child will tell you they’re using one, especially if it’s to bypass parental controls or for more concerning reasons. Aside from catching them using an unfamiliar phone red-handed, there are other ways you can confirm your suspicions. 

Although their burner phone won’t have parental controls, you can use the Qustodio Parents app to monitor changes in usage on their primary phone. Drastic shifts in screen time habits could indicate they’re using a second device. For example, if they typically spend a couple of hours on Snapchat each day and that suddenly drops to zero, that could be an indication they’re using the app on another phone. Of course, there are other reasons why they might be using an app less – such as simply losing interest – so it’s important to talk to them before jumping to conclusions. 

You can also check your home’s Wi-Fi network for unknown devices. Most modern routers allow you to view a list of connected devices by logging into the router’s web interface. However, this method is only useful if they’re using Wi-Fi at home – it won’t detect a device using prepaid data 

I found out my teen has a burner phone. What should I do?

Discovering that your child has been hiding a secret phone might be disappointing, but it’s important to approach the situation calmly and without accusations. 

1. Start an open conversation

Let them know you’re not upset, but you’re concerned and want to understand why they feel the need to hide a second phone from you.

2. Emphasize trust and safety rather than punishment

It may be tempting to reprimand your child for using a secret phone, but doing so could shut down communication between you. Instead, let your child know that your main concern is their wellbeing, and encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings openly, reassuring them that they won’t be punished for being honest.

Remind them that you monitor their device, not to be a spy, but to help them stay safe online. An unmonitored phone could expose them to harmful content and dangerous people, such as online predators and cyberbullies.

3. Reconsider screen time boundaries

Finding out your teen has a secret phone might prompt you to reassess device rules. If they’ve resorted to using a burner phone for more privacy or because they feel their screen time is too limited, it could open up a conversation about the rules and restrictions currently in place. You might consider revising screen time limits or adjusting message alerts to help keep your child safe while respecting their needs and privacy.

Some teenagers turn to burner phones to bypass parental controls, maintain private relationships, or engage in risky online behavior with less chance of being caught. If you suspect your child has a second phone, it’s best to approach the situation with empathy and understanding rather than punishment. By encouraging open conversations and helping them recognize the risks of using an unmonitored device, you can better support their digital wellbeing in the long run. 

The rise of online gambling sites and apps has made gambling more accessible than ever. In seconds, we can load an app and stake money on poker, roulette, or blackjack – or bet on football games, horse races, presidential elections, and even the Oscars.

As convenient as it is, the ability to wager on almost anything at your fingertips can be disastrous for the estimated 5 million Americans who meet the criteria for compulsive gamblers. 

And what about kids?

In the past, a child would have had to illegally enter an 18+ casino or betting shop to gamble. Today, it’s relatively easy for a minor to access an online gambling platform and start taking their chances – often without fully understanding the risks involved.

The rise in teens gambling online

In our 2024 report, only 39% of parents admitted feeling concerned about their children accessing gambling content online. Yet, youth gambling has recently been described as a “massive public health problem,” with children as young as 10 showing signs of addiction.

Depending on the country or state, the law requires people to be over 18 or 21 to gamble online. Although most online gambling platforms state that they have age restrictions, they often aren’t enforced strongly, if at all. For example, a minor could bypass an age verification process by using information from an older sibling or parent.   

You don’t have to spend long online to see how young people are being drawn into the flashy yet hollow world of gambling through a range of questionable tactics, including:

• Targeted social media ads – Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are guilty of bombarding underage users with gambling ads, often with cartoonish graphics and trendy slang to make betting seem fun and harmless.
• Influencer and streamer promotions – Content creators on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok normalize gambling by promoting platforms or even streaming their bets, turning high-risk wagers into entertainment.
• Free-to-play gambling apps – Games featuring poker, slots, and blackjack may seem harmless at first, but they frequently push players to purchase in-app currency, blurring the lines between gaming and real gambling.
• Sports betting – Major events like the Super Bowl are flooded with ads for betting platforms, conditioning young fans to associate sports with gambling.
• “Risk-free” betting offers – Promos like “free bets” and “bonus cash” make gambling seem like an easy, no-strings-attached activity.

Loot boxes and gacha games: Gambling gateways?

Gambling platforms and their murky marketing strategies aside, there’s a more insidious way that young people are being unknowingly conditioned to gamble –  through video games.

Loot boxes are virtual items in video games that players can purchase or earn through gameplay, offering randomized rewards like character skins, weapons, or other in-game bonuses. The excitement of not knowing what you’ll get until you open the box, and the prospect of scoring a rare and valuable item, has led to criticism that video games are increasingly resembling gambling platforms. Loot box mechanics can be found in many “free-to-play” mobile games including Clash Royale, Brawl Stars, and Call of Duty: Mobile. 

Gacha games are video games that encourage players to win virtual items like cards and characters through a mechanism, similar to a vending machine, in which players pull, spin, or roll using in-game currency. Like with loot boxes, gacha games are considered akin to gambling and have been criticized for encouraging children to spend large amounts of money in the hopes of winning big. 

At the time of writing, Japan, China, South Korea, Belgium, and the Netherlands have either banned or introduced strict regulations on loot boxes and gacha games due to concerns that they resemble gambling.  

The dangers of gambling online for teens

It might start innocently, but gambling online with digital money or game skins comes with real-life risks that younger people might not fully understand. Irresponsible gambling can have devastating effects on people of all ages but their still-developing brains mean the dangers can be much worse for children.

Addiction and problem gambling

Research has shown that 2% to 7% of young people may develop a gambling disorder as opposed to around 1% of adults. Some attribute this to young brains being more sensitive to dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter released during gambling wins. This heightened response can make gambling feel even more addictive for teens.

Serious financial loss

One of the biggest pitfalls of gambling is not knowing when to walk away. Since developing brains struggle to assess risk versus reward accurately, teenagers are more likely to fall into dangerous gambling patterns and accumulate significant debt – whether through many small bets or one giant, regrettable wager. In a desperate attempt to keep gambling, a child might even use their parent’s payment card, leading to a nasty surprise when the monthly statement arrives.

Negative impact on mental health

Gambling, especially when started at a young age, can have serious, long-term mental health consequences, including anxiety, stress, depression, and impulse control issues. Teens who gamble are also more likely to engage in other risky behaviors, such as alcohol and substance use; and studies have shown that gambling addicts have the highest suicide rate of any addiction disorder.

Legal issues

If caught gambling underage, some countries and states hold minors accountable, imposing fines or, in extreme cases, even criminal charges – especially if identity fraud is involved, such as using a fake ID to bypass age verification.

How to protect your teen from the dangers of gambling

Sitting alongside other concerning online content like pornography, violence, and illegal substance use, gambling is often overlooked by parents – yet its dangers shouldn’t be. With problem gambling on the rise among young people, we recommend that parents take a more proactive approach to this growing online threat.

1. Learn the warning signs

If your teen is gambling online, they’re likely doing it in secret. However, the following signs might indicate that your child is gambling, and spotting them early can help you step in before it develops into a bigger problem. Note that these aren’t exclusive to online gambling and may point to something else troubling your teen.

• Frequently asking for money or your credit card information
• Increased time spent online
• Behavioral changes such as mood swings, aggression, and depression
• Increased interest in gaming and competition
• Less engagement in school and other activities

2. Model healthy behavior

Research has shown that problem gambling can be passed down through generations, so leading by example should always be a priority. If you enjoy gambling occasionally, avoid doing it in front of your children, encouraging them to join in, placing bets for them, or boasting about your wins. 

3. Set spending rules for games with gambling mechanics

The controversial presence of loot boxes and other gambling-like features in video games can condition kids to gamble without them even realizing it. For many games, you can set spending limits to control how much your child can spend on loot boxes, usually a maximum monthly budget. 

Avoid saving credit or debit card details in the game. To limit how much your child spends on loot boxes and other in-app purchases, consider using gift cards or prepaid cards instead.  

If you want to block the ability to make in-game purchases completely, you can usually do this via the device’s parental controls. For example, for Call of Duty: Mobile on iOS, you can disable in-app purchases by turning on Content & Privacy Restrictions; on Android, this can be done in Play Store settings.

4. Use external parental controls 

For peace of mind, parental control tools like Qustodio can help further protect your child from gambling by allowing you to:

• Block gambling or gaming apps from being opened
• Receive alerts when your child searches for something gambling-related
• Set time limits for gaming apps like Clash Royale, Brawl Stars, and Call of Duty: Mobile.
• “Pull the plug” and immediately pause the internet to stop whatever your child is doing online.

While parents’ focus is often on keeping their kids away from other dark corners of the internet, teens gambling online is a growing concern that shouldn’t be ignored. Despite it being illegal in most places for minors, gambling is hyped up by influencers and streamers, and targeted ads on their favorite platforms mean kids can be lured by “free bets” and other irresistible promotions. Perhaps most concerning, is the concept of loot boxes in video games and gacha games, both of which can condition kids to gamble. 

A child’s still-developing brain means that the possibility of addiction and other dangers of gambling are heightened for minors. To reduce these risks, parents need to take a proactive approach which might include watching out for warning signs, modeling healthy behavior, and using parental controls.  

Humans are natural problem solvers, and when things aren’t working – including ourselves – we just love to find a way to fix them. The internet has provided our insatiable curiosity with a wealth of easily accessible information; therefore, it’s no surprise that we turn to our old friend doctor Google to research and self-diagnose health conditions. This has now become so normalized that a US survey showed that 89% of participants consulted Google before seeing a doctor

As highly social creatures, we seek belonging and acceptance, gravitating towards like-minded peers – especially during adolescence. Participating in trends helps provide solidarity, and one of the more recent is discussing and sharing mental health experiences on social media, turning platforms like TikTok and Instagram into virtual diagnostic centers. Given the vulnerability of those experiencing such issues, how did openly sharing deeply personal information with thousands of online strangers become commonplace? What are the risks, and are there any benefits?

How the social media therapy phenomenon began

The 2020 global pandemic brought about an unprecedented rise in poor mental health, and many mental health practitioners, unable to consult with patients in person, started sharing their professional expertise online. At the same time, influencers – despite having little or no mental health training themselves – began sharing their therapists’ advice with their followers, leading to the phenomenon known as ‘social media therapy’ or ‘Instagram therapy’.

The ways social media influences mental health advice

Mental health (and its complex associated issues) is unique to each individual; therefore, even advice or information given online by professionals with years of training and experience, can only ever be general and educational in nature.

Influencers, despite having a large following, often lack the authority to offer mental health advice, and even with the best of intentions, the fact remains that their main goal is to increase their profile by engaging with their followers. Additionally, their content on the topic may be influenced by sponsorships, endorsements, or personal motives, potentially causing their followers more harm than good. 

One good example of this is YouTuber Tricia Paytas, who diagnosed herself with dissociative identity disorder (DID), not only spreading misinformation but undermining those who do have the disorder themselves.

That said, providing a platform where users can speak openly about mental health within a public forum does help reduce the stigma surrounding these issues, enabling individuals to feel less alone in their psychological struggles; however, the risks often outweigh the benefits, particularly when advice given without qualification causes harm through misdiagnosis.

The risks of mental health misdiagnosis

Social media therapy blurs the line between general advice and specific professional help, signaling to online users, and often young audiences, that bringing up such topics in a public forum is not just acceptable but actually the ‘healthy’ thing to do.

Young people can sometimes become so focused on making sense of their own emotions that they will resonate with 1 or 2 aspects of a particular mental health condition being discussed on social media, then mold the rest of their ‘symptoms’ to fit that diagnosis. Others who don’t match a specific diagnosis well enough may wonder what’s wrong with them or engage in online behaviors like sadfishing – posting dramatic or emotional personal stories in a vie for attention – to get the validation they seek.

Some users may correctly identify the presence of a few psychological symptoms but fail to recognise the signs of a more serious condition, and some may decline to seek professional help altogether, thinking that the online advice from a peer or an influencer they admire is all they need. Conversely, uninformed users may accuse those with a confirmed diagnosis or genuine symptoms of making fake claims for attention, often causing further harm to those already vulnerable.

When mental health becomes a trending ‘diagnosis’

Mental health diagnoses have become such an important part of TikTok’s younger community that many teens now list them as an identifier in their bio. Talking openly about mental health on social media platforms has also inadvertently led to mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, dissociation, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), being seen as ‘trendy’ to have.

Posting about these serious conditions through romanticized memes is referred to as ‘beautiful suffering’ by mental health professional Aditi Verma. Content like this can downplay the seriousness of mental illness and negate the struggles experienced by diagnosed sufferers.

The positives and benefits of social media therapy

While social media therapy has its downsides, openly talking about mental health online has played a vital role in reducing the stigma and embarrassment that has prevented people from seeking help in the past, along with other benefits of the social trend, such as:

• Making information more accessible
• Raising awareness and empathy
• Normalizing acceptance across different areas, such as school, work, and home
• Helping make potentially scary topics less overwhelming
• Providing a sense of solidarity for sufferers

Additionally, the power of social media to shape behavior and opinion on a massive scale has resulted in more people becoming aware of the importance of prioritizing their own wellbeing, and it has now become an integral consideration for many areas of everyday life.

Generally speaking, advice given about mental health online should be used for interest and education, as a starting point for further research, or to support those with existing mental health diagnoses. There are multiple responsible influencers like TikToker Kalista Dwyer, who has a history of mental health issues and posts on the topic in a mindful, intentional way, careful to consult with licensed professionals to ensure she steers clear of giving clinical advice.

Many social media platforms have started to recognise their impact on mental health, introducing features to help. TikTok has created stricter content guidelines and search interventions, directing users searching for potentially harmful content to local support resources as well as developing a Wellbeing Guide for engaging with others about mental health and wellbeing online. Similarly, Pinterest’s Haven consists of curated content focusing on mental health and wellbeing. But is it enough? 

The intersection of social media and mental health is complex. While social media can be a helpful platform when used safely and responsibly to improve awareness and reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness, it should complement, not replace, professional care.

Amid the chaos of a looming TikTok ban in the US, a new, surprising social media story began to weave itself. In the space of just a few days, one of China’s most popular social platforms, Xiaohongshu, or “Little red book”, shot to the top of the US download charts, as millions of US-based users flocked to the app, keen not to miss out on their daily social media fix. 

Xiaohongshu (小红书), more commonly referred to in English in its shortened form of “rednote”, became world-famous overnight. Will its popularity last, especially in the face of an impending TikTok ban stateside? Whether it’s simply enjoying its five minutes of fame, or the app is here to stay, parents need to know – is RedNote safe for teens to use, and what kind of content could your child come across on there? 

What is rednote? 

rednote is a Chinese social media platform which feels somewhat like a hybrid between TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest. All three of these apps are banned in China, but other domestic apps offering similar experiences, including rednote, Douyin, and Weibo are hugely popular. rednote started out as a shopping guide, where keen consumers could share reviews with the community. 

As the app’s popularity grew, it morphed into more of a social network, drawing in  Chinese-speakers largely sharing lifestyle videos, cosmetic and fashion content, travel tips, and food and drink recommendations. According to research firm Qian Gua, rednote had 300 million monthly active users in 2024. When the app started trending in the news and on social media, ahead of TikTok’s uncertain future, rednote gained over 3 million users in one day in the US, quickly landing it the top spot in the country’s app store.  

How old do you have to be to use rednote? 

On the App Store, rednote is recommended as 12+, and the Google Play Store lists it as “Parental Guidance Recommended”. rednote’s terms and conditions mention that users should be 18 and over to use the application, but as there is no age verification system, it’s easy for underage users to create an account.

Why is rednote popular? 

rednote is most commonly used to share recommendations, offering fashion, travel, beauty, and food tips. When signing up, you select topics, such as food, arts and crafts, or cosmetics, which offers a more personalized algorithm related to interests, rather than who users follow.

Despite the recent surge of US users, the majority of the content is still Mandarin-dominated, but as more users join the app from outside China, more videos in English and other languages are being uploaded, and comments are also starting to reflect this shift.

Many US users are flocking to rednote as a form of digital protest, moving to the platform in response to the possibility of a TikTok ban. Whether these users will stick remains to be seen, but it’s important to bear in mind if your child is either one of the millions who have joined up, or if they’re interested in exploring the app. Trends come and go, but before letting your child join any new social network, it’s important to be familiar with how it works – so let’s explore some of the possible issues both parents and children might come across on rednote.

Is rednote safe for teens to use? 

Parents should investigate and carefully consider any new application that children are using, and rednote is no different. To help parents understand the potential risks of the platform, we’ve outlined some of rednote’s key issues.

Inappropriate content 

As with any social media, teens can come across content that isn’t appropriate for their age as they explore the feed, or content that doesn’t align with your family values. 

It’s worth noting that rednote’s content moderation policies are stricter than other social media apps such as TikTok. Content that US users are more used to, such as violence, political content, or what could be perceived as sexually suggestive material (for example, someone in the gym with their shirt off) is much more likely to be removed. This relates to more restrictive content policies which are standard in China, and which clash directly with the US’ outlook on freedom of expression – something that parents may want to bear in mind when discussing the app with teens. 

Direct messaging and comments

While many new users noted how welcoming the rednote community was during the sudden influx of English speakers, that doesn’t mean everyone’s experience on the application will be  positive. Comments and opinions can quickly turn mean or hurtful on social media, and another thing for parents to consider is the app’s direct messaging features, allowing vulnerable younger users to be contacted by strangers.  

Data collection 

One of the main concerns in the media surrounding rednote is how it collects data – and how much it collects. This is nothing new in the social media space. These platforms in general are driven by data, and collect vast amounts of it in order to understand how users consume content, and push a more personalized algorithm. This data can also be sold to third parties, such as advertisers, depending on where you live in the world. 

Before you or your child creates any social media account, it’s important to understand how your data will be used, if there are any inbuilt security settings, and how you can keep your personal information private as you use these platforms.

Here’s how you and your teen can protect personal information on social media:  

1. Never share daily routines. People shouldn’t know where you go to school, where you live, or other personal details that can identify you online -and can allow users to locate you in the real world. 
2. Use inbuilt privacy settings, such as a private profile, and only accept friend requests from people that you know in real life.
3. Be careful what you share, even during exciting moments, such as passing a driving test, traveling for the first time, or getting your first paycheck. Make sure never to share any identifiable information, such as passport information, driving license, national ID, or social security numbers. 

Is rednote safe for teens? Qustodio’s final recommendation

Time will tell if rednote’s newfound popularity stays the course, but our message to parents will always be the same: Make sure that you are familiar with any new app that your child is interested in using, and work together with them to create an experience that focuses on the positives (if the app has any), while also ensuring that the risks and negatives are something you both understand. 

If you see your child is interested in using, or is already using rednote, here are some ways you can talk to them about it: 

• Start the conversation, without judgment. Coming into the talk with a curious approach will help your child open up to you, while also letting them see your perspective if you are against them using the app. Talk to your child about why they want to download, or have downloaded rednote, and what they like about it. 
• Either by downloading the app yourself, or sitting with your child to see how the platform works, you need to understand the features it has, how it works, and the potential risks they’re up against. Explore the apps and platforms they use together to gain insight and stay up-to-date on their interests there.
• Approach them with an emphasis on safety. Explain how they can keep their data and information safe as they explore new apps.
• Encourage critical thinking. There is a vast amount of information and content available on social media, and not all of it should be taken at face value. Teach your child to think for themselves, how to research and verify information, and let them know you are always there to help if they need it.

Social media allows us to learn, connect with other cultures and ideas, and be entertained, but at the same time, there are harmful and dangerous elements to it, especially for younger users. 

Ultimately, we’d recommend that parents use age recommendations as a basic guideline, but make decisions based on what you know about the individual app, combined with your child’s maturity, personality, and how they interact with the digital world. Working together with your child, you can help them to understand your point of view and what’s inappropriate for their age, while they have a safer, healthier online experience. 

Have you heard your teen mentioning ‘Bitcoin’ and ‘Dogecoin’ or noticed they’ve developed a sudden interest in cryptocurrency forums? The number of teens entering the world of cryptocurrency (or crypto) trading is on the rise; however, some digital wellbeing experts are starting to raise concerns about this growing trend. Here’s what you need to know about crypto and its risks to teen traders. 

What is cryptocurrency? 

While crypto has made some inroads into everyday transactions, with some retail and gaming platforms accepting it as payment, it’s not yet a common method for routine purchases. Instead, cryptocurrency is often used for transactions between individuals who prefer to keep their dealings untraceable. This has led to its popularity on the dark web and made it the currency of choice for scammers and those engaged in less-than-legal activities.

Most people regard the buying and selling of cryptocurrency as similar to stock trading. While financial gain is the main objective for teen traders, they also can be heavily influenced by social media, online communities, and gaming platforms. 

Can kids buy cryptocurrency?

• Peer-to-peer. Transactions with an individual, through a P2P platform or more informally, can be prone to fraud and scams. 

• Unregulated or non-KYC platforms. These platforms allow users to trade without verifying their identity, but as you’ve probably guessed, they are less secure and more prone to scams than regulated exchanges.

• Crypto ATMs. With over 40,000 dotted around the world, crypto ATMs look like regular ATMs but allow users to buy crypto (usually Bitcoin) with cash and don’t typically require age verification. 

• With the help of a parent or guardian. Probably the safest option, an adult could open and manage transactions on a regulated crypto exchange on the teen’s behalf.

What are the risks for teen crypto traders? 

Strong likelihood of losing money

Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, meaning traders have the potential to make or lose a lot of money when prices swing up or down. For example, when the pandemic caused the markets to crash in March 2020, Bitcoin lost half its value in two days. A teen or someone new to investing may not fully understand the financial risk if a coin loses value or the market crashes.

Potential for addiction akin to gambling

Similar to when a gambler wins money, making quick, easy gains from crypto releases dopamine and creates a feeling of excitement that a trader will want to feel again and again. To a developing teenage brain, this feeling may be too strong to manage and lead to them chasing this instant gratification. 

Unlike stock markets, crypto trading is available 24/7 giving potentially dangerous, non-stop access to those prone to obsessive trading. 

Hype and FOMO

A major part of crypto trading is interacting with like-minded people on social media and in online communities such as r/CryptoCurrency on Reddit. Seeing others brag about their huge gains can make it seem like everyone is winning big and create a strong feeling of missing out (FOMO). Teen traders are more likely to succumb to hype and FOMO and make investing decisions based on impulse and emotion rather than research and rationale. 

Scams and fraud

The anonymity of cryptocurrency coupled with its newness and lack of regulation, makes the crypto market a paradise for scammers; and as cryptocurrencies operate in a decentralized system, banks or governments cannot step in and help recover lost money.

Here are a few common crypto scams:

• Fake crypto and ICOs (initial coin offerings). Scammers create a fake cryptocurrency or ICO only to disappear with investors’ money.

• “Pump and dump”. Scammers hype up an obscure coin on social media or forums, driving up the price (“pump”). They then sell once enough people have bought in, causing a crash (“dump”).  

• Fake exchanges. A scammer creates an exchange platform offering low fees and introductory bonuses to attract new users, only to lock them out once they’ve deposited funds.    

• Ponzi or pyramid schemes. Scammers use funds from new investors to pay earlier investors only for the project to crash when the “profits” dry up.   
• Fake celebrity endorsements.  Scammers pose as influential people on social media and DM users offering too-good-to-be-true investment opportunities. Over 6 months in 2021, crypto scammers pretending to be Elon Musk made more than $2m. 

Crypto scammers use their shady skills to steal login credentials and private keys too. Common methods include phishing, via emails or fake platforms that look like legitimate crypto exchanges; and by posing as loved ones asking for passwords and keys. 

Although traders of all ages can be victims of crypto scams, teens can be more trusting and tend to overlook signs of a scam when caught up in the hype of cashing in on crypto. 

Crypto for kids: Our recommendation for parents 

As a parent, staying informed about the digital world your teen is participating in is essential. If your teen is interested in cryptocurrency trading, ensure you engage in open conversations about it with them, including its risks, and encourage critical thinking and responsible financial behavior. By fostering a supportive and communicative environment, you can help your teen make informed decisions in this ever-evolving digital landscape. Because of the high risk of being caught up in crypto scams, you should also ensure your child knows how to spot, and avoid falling for an online scam.

When it comes to the practicalities of trading, some parents open accounts and manage transactions on their teen’s behalf, on established and regulated exchange platforms such as Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken. This approach allows their crypto-curious teen to dip their toe into the world of trading and learn valuable lessons while minimizing the risks. However, this scenario should be considered carefully as the risks of loss will simply be passed on to the parents.

As parents in the digital world, our focus should not be on discouraging curiosity but on guiding it in the right direction. 

However, if your teen’s crypto trading has become problematic, consider using a parental control solution like Qustodio to limit the time your child spends on crypto trading platforms – or completely block access to them if needed. You can also limit or block access to social media platforms and forums where teens can easily get caught up in crypto hype.