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.

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.