Adult Social Media Platforms: What Parents Need Know

In the digital age we live in now, social media platforms have become all the rage with a broad range of interests and activities, often with significant implications for the younger generation. As adult social media becomes increasingly popular, understanding its impact on children and learning how to manage access is crucial for parents.

Follow this article to learn about popular adult social media websites and apps and their effects on children. For parents, we have provided practical advice for managing and restricting access to them.

Whether directly or indirectly, adult social media platforms such as websites or apps can have various effects on children. These platforms often feature content that is inappropriate for younger audiences, including explicit material, adult themes, and potentially harmful interactions. Exposure to such content can negatively impact the emotional and psychological well-being of children, leading to various issues such as:

1. Privacy & Safety Concerns: Adult social media platforms frequently collect large amounts of personal information, which can be accessed or misused. Also, children might unintentionally reveal their personal information to malicious users.
2. Cyberbullying Risks: Social apps for adults provide a chance for users to misbehave. Adults are not the only ones who use social media platforms; children may come across adult users who engage in bullying, which can lead to negative encounters. According to research, 42% of children have experienced bullying online. Because many people can be rude to children, using inappropriate language or forcing them to do things they would not do on their own.
3. Sexual Content Exposing: Many adult social media platforms have various kinds of content that may be inappropriate for children. This contains sexual content, explicit information, and marketing aimed at adults. Children who use social media apps for adults are more likely to be too exposed to sexual information, which could spark their desire for sex prematurely. Adult actions and trends can have an impact on younger users, often encouraging dangerous practices or setting false expectations about their lifestyle.
4. Online Predators: Adult social media platforms that offer adult content or social networking features could draw predators looking to exploit vulnerable users. Children can unknowingly communicate with such individuals.
5. Mental Health Effects: When children are exposed to adult content on adult social media sites or apps, they may develop indicators of emotional disorders. Its symptoms may include a lack of sleep, withdrawal from friends, low self-esteem, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and depression.

Understanding these risks helps parents make informed decisions about how to manage their children's online interactions.

Here are some of the popular adult social media websites and apps that parents should be aware of:

1. Snapchat

Official age rating: 13 years or older

Snapchat social media platform can be accessed through both its website and mobile app. Its main appeal is its feature that automatically deletes sent messages, leading to its use for sharing explicit content. This makes it difficult for parents to monitor their children's use and exposure to adult material. Additionally, the platform's private messaging capability raises concerns about potential interactions with strangers.

Key Features:

• Messages and media disappear after being viewed.
• Users can post photos and videos that are viewable for 24 hours.
• Features many kinds of interactive and augmented reality filters.

2. TikTok

Official age rating: 13 years or older

TikTok allows users to create and share short videos through both the website and mobile apps. While TikTok is largely a platform for short-form videos, it can also share things that may be harmful to children. Users could come across sexually suggestive information or explicit challenges. Furthermore, like with other social media networks, often posting photos and videos exposes your child to negative reactions and rude comments.

Key Features:

• Allows users to create and share short-form videos.
• Features viral trends and challenges to encourage engagement.
• Personalized content appears in response to user activities.

3. Badoo

Official age rating: 18 years or older

Badoo, which is available as both a website and a mobile app, allows users to chat, date, and meet others online. It is one of the best adult apps that matches people based on their shared interests and geographical proximity. The platform is geared towards dating, including content and interactions that are inappropriate for children. As one of the adults only social media apps, it exclusively accepts members aged 18 and up.

Key Features:

• Mostly a dating app with features for meeting new people.
• Provides methods for verifying the authenticity of user profiles.
• Locate possible connections based on interests and geography.

4. Facebook

Official age rating: 13 years or older (depends on region)

Facebook continues to be a popular social media networking platform for adults. It provides a wide range of content, including news and personal updates. It also includes content that may be inappropriate for younger users. It may also host groups and pages containing adult material. Users may encounter explicit photos, videos, or discussions.

Key Features:

• Users can share complete details, photos, and updates.
• Provides a platform for communities and interests, including a news feed, pages, and groups.
• Comprehensive tools for user interaction and organization.

5. Instagram

Official age rating: 13 years or older

Instagram, owned by Facebook, is accessible both as a website and an app, enabling users to share photos, videos, and stories. As a visually-driven platform, it may host mature content on specific accounts and under certain hashtags, making it an adult social media platform. Additionally, it often showcases influencer content and advertisements that might not be suitable for all audiences.

Key Features:

• It has photo and video sharing, story, and reel features.
• Allows for private direct communication among users.
• Popular for influencers and brand promotion.

6. Reddit

Official age rating: 13 years or older

Reddit is a community-based platform that has forums or "subreddits" on virtually any topic. While most subreddits are safe, some contain explicit or controversial content that may not be appropriate for children. Furthermore, there are few or no restrictions on what people can publish, thus children will undoubtedly encounter improper content. Although this adult social media site gives the option to select safe search, it is doubtful that a youngster would do so. It is also one of the most sought-after adult Android apps.

Key Features:

• Themed forums where people can discuss interesting topics.
• Readers can influence the ranking of posts by voting up or down.
• Users can post and comment anonymously.

7. Pinterest

Official age rating: 13 years or older

Pinterest is a web and app-based platform for discovering and sharing ideas using images and links. While it is primarily family-friendly, some content about adult themes or interests may be available through certain searches or boards. Therefore, it is also deemed as a social website for adults. Users may come across sexually offensive images or adult-themed crafts, making it an adult social media platform and unsuitable for children.

Key Features:

• Pins and boards allow users to discover and bookmark ideas for inspiration.
• Powerful search abilities for finding content.
• Users can organize their saved content into boards.

To manage and restrict access to adult social media platforms, using parental control apps like the FamiSafe app can be highly effective. It provides various features to help parents monitor and control their children's online activities:

Screen Viewer

The Screen Viewer feature ensures your child's online safety through instant or scheduled screen captures and detection of suspicious content, allowing for continuous monitoring of their online activities. Screenshots can be set to be taken at automated intervals (every 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 minutes). Activating the "suspicious filter" option will display all questionable images in a gallery format. Parents will receive alerts when inappropriate images are detected.

App Blocker

The application includes a 'Block Apps' feature to prevent unwanted distribution or curb excessive app usage on your child's phone. Additionally, you can lock apps based on age ratings, and block or restrict certain harmful apps, including adult-oriented social media applications. During study or sleep hours, you can monitor your child's app usage and block adult social media apps to ensure they are focused. The app records your child's app usage and sends you an instant alert if they attempt to access an app that has been blocked.

Web Filter

The Web Filter feature creates a secure and age-appropriate online environment for children by blocking access to adult social media websites. It enables the monitoring of children's browsing history, including private or incognito sessions, to ensure they haven't visited any inappropriate sites. Websites can be filtered by categories to prevent exceptions, and specific adult content sites can be added to the block or allow list on a child's device.

Explicit Content Detection

The Explicit Content Detection feature allows you to monitor adult social media websites and apps for any explicit or offensive content. It can detect explicit content, such as inappropriate posts or comments. As a parent, you can set explicit texts and receive warnings when such phrases appear in messages to your children.

Now that you know the features of the FamiSafe application. Follow the steps below to monitor and keep track of the device of your child using FamiSafe:

Step 1: First, download and install the FamiSafe application on the device of the parent (Android or iPhone) from the App Store or Google Play.

Step 2: Launch the app on the phone and select the “Parent” option. Create a FamiSafe account to set up the app for monitoring the device of your child. Continue setting up the process until the QR scan and pairing code are generated.

Step 3: Next, download and install the FamiSafe Kids app on the device of your child (Android, iPhone, Kindle, Windows, or Mac).

Step 4: Launch the FamiSafe Kids app on the device of your child and tap "Start". Enter the pairing code or scan the QR code from the FamiSafe app on parents.

Step 5: After the pairing process, complete information about your child and grant access to the app so it can manage the phone activities.

While parental control apps such as Famisafe can efficiently protect your children from many negative aspects of social media, parents should also actively engage in their children's online activities. Since it is impossible to completely restrict or block children's access to social media, parents can take significant measures to protect them successfully.

Here are a few simple tips for parents to follow to restrict adult social media apps from children:

1. Most adult social media platforms and devices have built-in parental controls. Enable these features to restrict access to adult content for your children.
2. Educate your children with a healthy discussion of the potential risks of adult social media and the importance of online safety.
3. Regularly check the permissions and settings of adult social media apps installed on your child's device to ensure they align with safety guidelines.
4. Have an open communicative relationship with your children, so they can have discussions about the potential risks associated with social media and the importance of using it responsibly.
5. Set clear rules about which platforms are allowed and the kind of content that is acceptable to your children.
6. Regularly check your child's online activity to ensure they are adhering to the established rules and guidelines.

It is of paramount importance for parents to understand adult social media and its impact on children. To protect your children from inappropriate content and interactions, you can use parental control apps such as FamiSafe. Not only does it allow you to monitor and track your children's online activities, but it also restricts them from accessing explicit content and blocked websites and apps. Furthermore, by having regular open communication, setting clear guidelines, and explaining potential online dangers to your child, you can reduce the risks significantly. Remember, staying informed and involved in your child's digital life is crucial for their safety and well-being.

How can I talk to my child about social media risks?

You can start the conversation with openness and sensitivity. Explain the potential dangers, highlight the importance of privacy, and urge your child to come to you if they have any concerns.

Can I block specific content on social media platforms?

Most social media platforms have settings for filtering or restricting content for underage users. You can use these settings to protect your children from inappropriate content as they use social media. Additionally, parental control apps like FamiSafe can easily restrict particular types of content and websites.

How can I ensure the online privacy of my child?

You can teach your child about the importance of not sharing personal information online. Also, encourage them to use privacy settings on their social media accounts and devices. Make sure to regularly review their privacy settings and online activity.