Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok are the most popular social media apps for teens. But which is safer for kids? In this article, we break down the pros and cons of these platforms, what parents should know about online safety, and how BrightCanary helps parents stay in the loop.
Instagram vs. Snapchat vs. TikTok for Kids: Comparison Table
Feature
Instagram
Snapchat
TikTok
Best for
First social media app
Peer-based chat and interaction
Content discovery and entertainment
Parental controls
More robust than other platforms, but can be tricky to set up
With Family Center, parents can see who their teen is messaging and set privacy limits
With Family Pairing, parents can control messages, set time limits, and more
Messaging risks
DMs allow contact with strangers
Disappearing messages + pressure to respond
Less peer interaction, but Live chat risk
Content moderation
Algorithms and filters, but inappropriate content can still get through
Algorithms and filters, but inappropriate content can still get through
Algorithms, filters, and risk of exposure to harmful trends and feedback loops
Safety rating for kids
⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐
⭐⭐
The pros and cons of Snapchat for kids
Snapchat is an integral part of many teens’ social circles. Here’s what to consider when deciding if Snapchat right for your child:
Pros
No striving for likes: Snapchatters can like Snap, but, unlike other apps, a tally of likes isn’t displayed. This relieves the negative impact that the pressure to get likes can have on teens.
Improved Family Center: With Snapchat Family Center, parents can see who their teen is messaging and set privacy limits. It’s not perfect, but we do like how user-friendly it is. The parental control settings on other social media apps are buried or hard to use.
Built-in privacy settings: Teen accounts include additional protections, like location sharing with parents and preventing strangers from finding and messaging your child’s account.
Cons
Disappearing messages and Snaps. Snaps and messages are designed to vanish after 24 hours, making it difficult for parents to see their child’s activity in the app.
Drug dealers. Snapchat’s anonymity means that it’s one of the platforms drug dealers use to peddle illicit substances without a trace, according to the DEA.
Privacy concerns. The Snap Map lets users share their physical location in real time. Broadcasting their exact whereabouts brings up serious privacy concerns for kids, especially if they’ve fibbed their age to get around some of the privacy protections on teen accounts.
Minimal parental controls. Snapchat’s parental controls still leave a lot to be desired, such as not allowing parents access to message content.
Instagram pros and cons for kids
Instagram's emphasis on self-expression and the variety of ways users can connect with friends make the app a hit with kids. Here are the pros and cons of letting your child use Instagram:
Pros
Customizable privacy settings. Instagram outpaces its competitors when it comes to letting you determine who sees your child’s content, how others can interact with their posts, and who can contact them.
Teen accounts. Instagram’s Teen Accounts include built-in protections for kids and better parental supervision tools, such as insights into who their teen is messaging and the ability to set daily limits for teens’ Instagram usage.
Robust parental controls.Instagram’s parental controls have some gaps, but are better than other social media apps. (The trick is figuring out how to use them.)
Cons
Exposure to inappropriate content. Between posts they view, DMs from their friends, and suggestions served up by the algorithm, there’s a chance your child will be exposed to inappropriate content simply by scrolling Instagram. The platform suggests more of what your child engages with, so if they start looking up concerning content, Instagram will send them more of it.
Contact with strangers. If your child’s account isn’t locked down, there are plenty of ways strangers can contact them.
Cyberbullying. Social media platforms like Instagram are prime venues for cyberbullying because there are so many ways users can harass your child, from leaving hurtful comments on posts to sending harmful direct messages and tagging them in Stories.
Tiktok pros and cons for kids
TikTok is a social media app built around short-form content, and it’s one of the hottest apps for teens. Here are some pros and cons of letting kids use TikTok:
Pros
Exposure to diverse people and ideas. It isn’t just a place for dance challenges — TikTok’s emphasis on content over creator identity means their For You Page offers more inclusive and diverse videos than older platforms like Instagram.
Fewer issues with peers. TikTok isn’t built around social connections like Instagram and Snapchat, minimizing the risk that teens will face issues like cyberbullying and exclusion while they browse.
Cons
Exploitation. Previous reports indicate that predators use TikTok to exploit minors by giving money and gifts in exchange for the child performing sexually suggestive acts on TikTok Live.
TikTok Brain. Watching a never ending stream of short videos leads to the fragmentation of attention known as TikTok Brain. That can translate to difficulty focusing in other areas of your child’s life, from homework to hobbies.
Addiction. TikTok’s own investigation showed that an average user is likely to become addicted to the app after browsing for around 35 minutes.
Exposure to harmful content. When a user’s activity on TikTok indicates an interest in something, it can quickly overtake their For You Page. This can lead to kids being flooded with content that fuels harmful behavior, particularly if they search for videos related to self-harm, suicide, or disordered eating behavior.
Which is better for kids: Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok?
Snapchat, Instagram, and Tiktok all have their pros and cons for kids, but Instagram stands out when it comes to safety.
Instagram’s more robust parental controls and Teen Accounts make it the best choice as a first platform for kids who want to try social media with their parent’s support.
But even though Instagram is slightly better than the others, there are still risks associated with the platform. Regardless of what social media your child uses, here’s what we recommend:
Use each platform’s parental controls to set boundaries.
Keep conversations open about digital safety and behavior.
Install BrightCanary to monitor your child’s social media activity, including messages, Google searches, and YouTube views.
Final word
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when choosing between Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok for your child. But with strong privacy settings and the best parental controls, Instagram is typically the better platform for kids starting social media.
It’s vital that parents take an active role in their child’s social media activity on all platforms. To monitor your child on social media, start your free BrightCanary trial today.
