As a parent, are you using Instagram yourself? Are you aware of your child or teen using it? Here is our advice for parents about kids on Instagram, part of our ongoing series on internet safety for kids.
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Kids on Instagram? Here’s What You Need to Know
If you don’t have an Instagram profile, or you only use it to scroll through a limited feed, it’s worth going back to basics and looking at Instagram the way a new user would.
What is Instagram?
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Instagram is a social media app focused on photo and video sharing. Photos and videos can be filtered and edited in various ways, then added to your profile to be seen by either a public audience or a private group you have approved.
It is one of the world’s most widely used social apps, owned by Meta (formerly Facebook, which acquired Instagram in 2012).
How Do You Use It?
Instagram is available as an app on iPhone & iPad and Android phones.
Fundamentally, Instagram is a photo and video sharing platform. However, many users rarely upload content themselves and mostly view and engage with what others have posted.
Where can you upload content?
You can upload content to:
- your grid, which is the feed of images on your account
- your stories, which are visible for 24 hours and can then be saved to a highlight on your profile
- or reels, for short-form video content
You can also live stream content, and Instagram allows multiple people to go live together at the same time.
There is also a direct messaging function, allowing users to send and receive messages, even with people they don’t follow.
6 Things You Should Know About Instagram as a Parent
#1. Children can sign up
You just need a valid email address and a password. There are no age verification checks at sign-up. Even though the Terms of Service state that users must be at least 13 years old, you are not asked to input a date of birth when signing up.
Make sure to read the Privacy Policy and the Terms of Service yourself before your child starts using the platform.
#2. People can follow each other on Instagram
To follow someone, all you need is their username. You can search for users and tap the Follow button. You can also follow people tagged in other posts by clicking on their username, which brings you to their profile.
As well as individuals, many brands (including MyKidsTime) are on Instagram. By following a person, brand or organisation, their content will appear in your feed.
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#3. The community is huge
Instagram has an enormous global user base, which means a lot of people are actively following, liking and commenting on each other’s content at any given time.
#4. You can look up photos by theme
Users can browse content by using a hashtag (a keyword with a # in front, e.g. #puppies), which pulls up posts using that tag. You can also choose to follow a particular hashtag if it interests you (e.g. #bakingfun), and posts using that tag will then appear in your feed, even from accounts you don’t follow.
#5. People can like or comment on each other’s photos
You don’t need to follow someone to like or comment on their photo. Simply tap the heart icon under a photo to ‘like’ it, or tap the comment button to type and send a comment.
#6. There are guidelines on what you can post on Instagram, but…
Instagram’s Terms of Service state that users may not post violent or nude images, among other restrictions. In reality, it’s very difficult for Instagram to police the huge volume of content uploaded every day.
It’s important that both you and your child understand this. Encourage them to only view and engage with content from people they genuinely know and trust.
If you’re new to creating posts yourself, tools such as this instant post generator can help you get familiar with the format.
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Tips for Parents
- Ask your child or teen for their Instagram username, to make sure they haven’t chosen one that includes their real name or other personal information.
- Keep an eye on what they post and what others say about their images, and talk openly about cyberbullying.
- As with all social media, have a conversation with your child about how they use Instagram and the importance of privacy settings.
- Try it yourself and ask your kids or teens to show you the basics. This is one of the best ways to understand what they’re actually doing on the app.
- Have regular conversations about online safety and behaviour. Remind them to tell you if they see anything strange, upsetting or inappropriate, if they receive suspicious or unwanted messages, and that they should never share personal information online.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an age limit for using Instagram?
Instagram’s Terms of Service require users to be at least 13 years old. However, there is no built-in age verification at sign-up, so it’s up to parents to check whether their child is using the app and to have a conversation about it.
Can I see who my child is following or talking to on Instagram?
Yes, if you have access to their account or follow them yourself, you can see who they follow and who comments on their posts. Direct messages are private, so open conversation with your child about who they talk to is important.
Does my child need to make their account private?
Instagram lets users choose between a public profile, visible to anyone, or a private one, where only approved followers can see their content. For children and teens, a private account is generally the safer option, and it’s worth discussing this setting together.
What should I do if I’m worried about something my child has seen on Instagram?
Talk to them calmly and without judgement, so they feel comfortable coming to you again in future. You can also report inappropriate content directly to Instagram through the app’s reporting tools.
Related Articles
- 16 Risky Apps Parents Should Be Aware Of (and Why!)
- Is Your Tween or Teen Using Omegle? You’ll Want to Read This!
- Expert Tips to Help You Communicate with Your Teen
- Online Safety for Kids: 5 Simple Lessons to Teach Your Kids
Want More Parenting Tips Like This?
If you found this useful, why not browse our other articles on internet safety and family life for more practical advice? You can also save this article to come back to whenever you need a refresher.
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