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    Grandkid Internet Safety

    What you need to know about the apps grandkids use.

    Your role

    Parents set rules. You don\'t need to police, but you SHOULD know enough to:

    • Not let a 7-year-old freely use TikTok at your house.
    • Recognize signs of online problems.
    • Talk to grandkids in a way that earns their trust.
    • Talk to your adult children if you see something concerning.

    Major platforms in 2025

    Roblox

    Game platform with millions of mini-games. Big with 7-14 year-olds. Strangers CAN message kids. Inappropriate content sometimes slips through. Set parental controls in account settings.

    Minecraft

    Building game. Mostly safe in single-player. Public multiplayer servers can have inappropriate content.

    Fortnite

    Competitive shooter. Cartoony but still violent. Voice chat with strangers possible — turn off in settings.

    TikTok

    Endless short videos. Algorithm pushes whatever holds attention — can lead to dark or sexual content. Kids under 13 are technically not allowed.

    Instagram

    Photos + DMs. Many teens use "finsta" (fake account) to say things they wouldn\'t on main account.

    Snapchat

    Messages disappear after viewing. Used heavily by teens for daily communication. Stranger requests are common.

    Discord

    Voice + text chat servers. Used for gaming friends — but predators use it too.

    YouTube

    Mostly safe with kids using YouTube Kids app. Regular YouTube has unfiltered content.

    Random video chat (Omegle was shut down 2023)

    Replacements like Monkey, Chat Roulette, Uhmegle are dangerous. Strangers, often inappropriate. Don\'t allow.

    Talk-to-grandkid tips

    • Ask "what\'s your favorite app?" not "do you use X?".
    • Ask them to SHOW you. They love to teach.
    • Don\'t panic-react. They\'ll just hide it next time.
    • Talk about online strangers — anyone who asks for photos, money, or to meet alone is dangerous, no matter how nice they seem.
    • Tell them they can ALWAYS come to you about anything they see, no consequences.

    Warning signs

    • Sudden secrecy with phone — face down, password change, hides screen.
    • New friends or "older friend" they only know online.
    • Big mood swings around screen time.
    • Receiving expensive gifts they can\'t explain.
    • Wanting to meet someone "from online" in person.

    If concerned, talk to the parent. Worst case — call CyberTipline at 1-800-843-5678 (NCMEC).

    For parental controls when watching grandkids

    See our "Childproof for Visits" tool. Set up Guided Access (iPhone) or Kids Mode (Android) on your devices BEFORE the visit. Saves headaches.