Messaging apps are now a core part of the youth’s social life. It’s how they connect with friends, share memes, and stay in touch.
However, behind the normal and seemingly harmless conversations occurring on these apps are hidden complexities about how users’ data and privacy are managed. After all, every app collects some form of data.
With nearly half of teenagers reporting being constantly online, countless opportunities arise for their privacy to be compromised. For parents, understanding how messaging apps handle privacy – and how you can protect your child – is more important than ever.
Understanding the Risks
Various factors affect how messaging apps manage user privacy.
Data Gathering
Behind the stickers, GIFs, and group chat chaos, messaging apps quietly gather information. Who talks to whom, when, where, and how often – these are just some of the data points that are routinely collected and can be sold to advertisers or other third parties.
This metadata can influence social media suggestions and, in some instances, reveal patterns that hint at more sensitive details. For example, providers can analyze at what times of the day your child messages their friends and then infer more about his or her personal schedule.
It’s why some people use virtual private network services. By masking one’s IP address, it’s far more difficult to build a data profile from a user.
Encryption
Another important factor about messaging app privacy is encryption. End-to-end encryption ensures that only the sender and recipient can read messages, preventing even the provider from reading conversations and making it significantly harder for outsiders to intercept chats.
With that said, not all encryption is created equal.
Some apps encrypt selectively. For example, Apple’s Messages app only encrypts messages between Apple devices.
Other apps store backups in dubious cloud storage, while others only encrypt messages while in transit (but no longer once they arrive on the recipient’s device).
Permissions and Features
Many messaging apps also request permission to access contacts, location, camera, microphone, and storage.
While many of these make sense and power the app’s features – you might want to send a picture to your child, and you’ll need your microphone to make calls –, each permission unavoidably expands what the app can track about your child.
And with the introduction of AI features on many apps, all these privacy risks grow even more complex.
Practical Ways to Protect Privacy
Despite all these, there are many easy yet effective ways to protect your kid’s privacy.
Choosing the Right Messaging App
Firstly, consider which apps to choose. In a recent study, cybersecurity experts analyzed ten out of the most popular messaging apps and ranked them according to their commitment to user privacy.
Notice how some of the most popular messaging apps (Messenger, Viber, Discord) ranked the lowest. However, one can say that they also offer the most extra social features that users enjoy (as previously mentioned, likely at the cost of increased data collection).
This doesn’t mean that you should necessarily stop using such apps – but, at the very least, you can make more informed decisions about how you communicate online.
Passwords, Settings, and Permissions
No matter what app you use, however, the basics remain the same: have strong passwords and locks and review your settings.
Firstly, ensure that your child is using strong passwords – or even biometric locks and two-factor authentication. These serve as the all-important first layer of protection.
Many kids still don’t realize how important a strong password is, often using simple, guessable ones like birthdays.
Even lock screen notifications are a subtle risk, potentially revealing personal information to anyone nearby enough to snoop at the screen.
Check app settings and permissions as well. Make sure each app only has access it truly needs. Additionally, review them regularly. Some apps can change their privacy settings and policies without prior notice.
These steps protect your child both from accidental exposure and from apps accessing more data than necessary.
Guiding Your Child
Even with these protections in place, it’s important to be an ever-present guiding presence for your child.
After all, children’s app choices are often shaped by peers. A trending app can become the “must-have,” regardless of privacy features.
However, you can’t control every download (which will most certainly backfire). So focus on open conversations and teaching digital literacy instead.
Learn how your kid typically uses messaging apps. Explain the importance of privacy and how to protect it. Endeavor to become more aware and proactive about digital security with them.
Doing this sets up good habits that they’ll bring into adulthood.
