Social Media Privacy Checklist
Run this list on each account with your child sitting next to you.
Let them make the changes.
Account visibility. Private by default. Check who
can see past posts, not just new ones.
Location. Turn off location tags on posts. Check
whether the app adds location to photos automatically.
Direct messages. Restrict messages to people your
child follows. This one setting blocks most stranger contact.
Contact permissions. Turn off contact syncing so the
app stops suggesting your child to strangers.
Tagging and mentions. Require approval before a tag
appears on their profile.
Follower list. Scroll it together. Remove anyone
your child cannot identify by name.
Login alerts and two-factor authentication. Turn
both on.
Saved passwords. Check what the browser has saved
and remove anything shared or reused.
Connected apps. Revoke third-party apps and games
that no longer get used. Each one is a door.
Search visibility. Turn off the setting that lets
the account be found by phone number or email.
Repeat this every six months. Platforms reset settings when they ship
new features.
Start the conversation: “Want to go through your settings together so strangers cannot find you?”
This article is educational. It is not medical, legal, or
emergency advice.