Before you start
Why default settings are a problem
Every platform ships with settings that prioritize growth and engagement over user safety. Public profiles, open messaging, location sharing, and activity indicators are all turned on by default — because they make the platform more useful to advertisers and to the algorithm.
For most adults, this is an inconvenience. For young people, it creates real exposure: strangers can find their profiles, see their activity, send them messages, and track their location — all without any deliberate action on the young person's part.
The settings in this guide won't make any platform completely safe. But they significantly reduce the surface area available to people who are looking for easy access to young users. That matters.
Private by default
Start locked down. Open up deliberately, not accidentally.
Limit visibility
Who can see your content, your activity, and your location.
Control contact
Who can message you, tag you, or interact with your posts.
Review regularly
Platforms update settings. Check yours every few months.
Meta · iOS & Android
Instagram defaults to a public account, which means anyone can see your posts, your followers, and who you follow. These settings reduce your exposure without limiting how you use the app.
Switch to a private account
A public account lets anyone — including people you have never met — see every post, story, and reel you share. A private account means only approved followers can see your content.
How: Settings → Account → Account Privacy → toggle "Private account" on.
Restrict who can send you messages
By default, anyone can send you a message request. Restricting this to "People you follow" or "No one" removes a common avenue for unsolicited contact from strangers.
How: Settings → Messages and story replies → Message controls → set "Others on Instagram" to "Don't receive requests."
Turn off activity status
Your activity status shows others when you were last active. Turning it off prevents people from knowing when you are online — useful for reducing pressure to respond immediately.
How: Settings → Messages and story replies → Show activity status → toggle off.
Disable story sharing and resharing
By default, anyone can share your stories to their own story or send them to others. Turning this off keeps your content from spreading beyond your followers.
How: Settings → Privacy → Story → toggle off "Allow sharing to story" and "Allow resharing to stories."
Review tagged photos before they appear on your profile
Without this setting, anyone can tag you in a photo and it appears on your profile immediately. Enabling manual review gives you control over what is associated with your account.
How: Settings → Privacy → Tags → toggle on "Manually approve tags."
Check your followers list periodically. A private account only protects you from new viewers — anyone already following you can still see everything.
ByteDance · iOS & Android
TikTok
TikTok's default settings are designed to maximize reach and engagement — which means your content, your comments, and your interactions are visible to a very wide audience by default. These settings pull that back.
Set your account to private
A public TikTok account means anyone can see your videos, your liked videos (if not hidden), and your followers. A private account requires your approval before someone can follow you.
How: Profile → three-line menu → Settings and privacy → Privacy → toggle "Private account" on.
Hide your liked videos
Your liked videos are public by default. They reveal your interests and viewing habits to anyone who visits your profile — including people you don't know.
How: Profile → three-line menu → Settings and privacy → Privacy → Liked videos → set to "Only me."
Restrict who can comment on your videos
Open comments allow anyone to interact with your content. Limiting comments to friends or followers reduces unwanted contact and harassment.
How: Settings and privacy → Privacy → Comments → set to "Friends" or "No one."
Turn off "Suggest your account to others"
TikTok's algorithm can suggest your account to people based on your contacts, location, and activity. Turning this off reduces how easily strangers can find you.
How: Settings and privacy → Privacy → Suggest your account to others → toggle all options off.
Disable Duet and Stitch
Duet and Stitch allow other users to create content using your videos. Disabling these prevents your content from being used in ways you haven't approved.
How: Settings and privacy → Privacy → Duet → set to "No one." Repeat for Stitch.
TikTok updates its settings interface frequently. If a setting has moved, search "privacy" in the app's search bar — it will surface the relevant settings pages directly.
Snap Inc. · iOS & Android
Snapchat
Snapchat's disappearing content creates a false sense of privacy — screenshots are possible, and the app collects significant location data by default. These settings address the most important exposures.
Set "Who can contact me" to Friends only
By default, anyone on Snapchat can send you a snap or message. Limiting this to friends means only people you have added can reach you directly.
How: Profile icon → Settings (gear icon) → Privacy Controls → Contact Me → set to "My Friends."
Disable location sharing (Snap Map)
Snap Map shares your precise location with your friends by default. "Ghost Mode" hides your location entirely. Sharing your location with anyone — even friends — creates risk if your account is compromised or if a "friend" is not who they claim to be.
How: Profile icon → Settings → See My Location → enable "Ghost Mode."
Set "Who can view my story" to Friends only
Stories are visible to all Snapchat users by default, not just your friends. Restricting this to friends limits who can see your daily activity.
How: Profile icon → Settings → Privacy Controls → View My Story → set to "My Friends."
Turn off "Quick Add"
Quick Add suggests your account to people who have mutual friends with you. Turning it off makes it harder for strangers to find and add you.
How: Profile icon → Settings → Privacy Controls → See Me in Quick Add → toggle off.
Remember: snaps and messages disappear from Snapchat's servers, but the person receiving them can screenshot or screen-record at any time. Disappearing does not mean private.
Discord Inc. · Desktop & Mobile
Discord
Discord is primarily used in servers (group communities), which creates different privacy risks than one-on-one social apps. The key settings here relate to who can message you directly and what information you share in servers.
Restrict direct messages from server members
By default, anyone in a shared server can send you a direct message. Turning this off means only people you have added as friends can DM you — significantly reducing unsolicited contact.
How: User Settings → Privacy & Safety → Direct Messages → toggle off "Allow direct messages from server members."
Enable Safe Direct Messaging
This setting automatically scans and filters explicit content in direct messages. It adds a layer of protection against unsolicited explicit images.
How: User Settings → Privacy & Safety → Safe Direct Messaging → set to "Keep me safe."
Turn off "Allow access to age-restricted servers"
Age-restricted servers contain content not appropriate for minors. Disabling access prevents accidental or manipulated entry into these spaces.
How: User Settings → Privacy & Safety → toggle off "Allow access to age-restricted servers on iOS."
Review server-specific privacy settings
Each server can have its own privacy settings. In servers with many members, your activity (reactions, messages, role changes) may be visible to all members. Be aware of what you share in large public servers.
How: In any server: right-click the server name → Privacy Settings → review what is visible to other members.
Disable "Show current activity"
Discord can display what game or application you are currently using to all your friends and server members. Turning this off prevents others from tracking your activity in real time.
How: User Settings → Activity Privacy → toggle off "Display current activity as a status message."
Be cautious about joining servers from links shared by people you have only met online. Servers can be used to gather personal information or expose users to harmful content.
After you've updated your settings
Next steps
Privacy settings are a starting point, not a solution. The most important protection for a young person online is knowing what to do when something feels wrong — and having an adult they trust enough to tell.
Platforms update their settings regularly. Set a reminder to review these settings every three to six months — especially after a major app update.
Learn more
Grooming Awareness
Understand the patterns that show up across platforms and what to do if you recognize them.
Read moreFor parents
Parent Discussion Guide
Conversation starters and age-appropriate language for talking about online safety.
Read moreIn person
Workshops
No Minor Detail offers in-person sessions for schools, parents, and community organizations.
Read more