What it is
Signal is a private messenger. Messages are encrypted, and the app is built for conversations with people who already have your number. It is not a place to meet strangers in the way random-chat apps are.
The limit for parents is supervision. You cannot open the chats from your own device. That is fine for a teenager talking to family, and a problem if the app appeared suddenly and they will not say who is on it.
What to look out for
- A new install they did not mention.
- A contact list that is not family or friends you know.
- Pressure from another app to “move the chat to Signal”.
- Disappearing messages turned on for every conversation.
Ways to stay safe
These steps are for Signal. The house rules still apply on every app.
- Ask who they talk to and why this app, not the family messenger.
- If the answer is “someone from a game”, treat that as a stranger until you know otherwise.
- For younger children, a private encrypted app is unnecessary. Take it off.
- Keep the conversation about who they are talking to, not about breaking the encryption.
In the news
Published reports you can read yourself. A headline is the proof, not a set of instructions, and this page does not repeat graphic detail.
- Overhaul algorithms and age checks or face fines, tech firms told Charities told the BBC that private encrypted apps need stronger rules. Signal is encrypted, so you cannot read the chats from your own phone.
A way to start the conversation
You can say: "I do not need to read every message. I do need to know who is on the other end. If you cannot tell me their real name, they should not be in this app."
Video
Parent briefing
A short video for this guide can be added by an editor. Until then, the written briefing above is the one to use.