What it is
Threads is a text-and-photo feed from the same company as Instagram. If a child has an Instagram account, they may already be one tap away from Threads.
Posts are public unless the account is restricted. Strangers can reply. It feels lighter than a photo app, which is why children post more casually than they should.
What to look out for
- A public profile that matches their Instagram name and face.
- Replies from adults they do not know.
- Arguments that spill back into Instagram messages.
- Location or school details in a “casual” post.
Ways to stay safe
These steps are for Threads. The house rules still apply on every app.
- If Instagram is not allowed, Threads should not be installed either.
- Keep the account private or limited, and turn off replies from people who do not follow them if that control is available.
- Use the same name rules as Instagram: no school, no phone number, no routine.
- Check replies with them when the account is new.
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.
- TikTok and YouTube 'not safe enough' for kids, says Ofcom Ofcom’s report, covered here by the BBC, includes Meta, which also makes Threads. Strangers can still reply on a public account.
A way to start the conversation
You can say: "A short post is still public. If someone you do not know keeps replying, we limit the account or we leave. You do not have to keep the conversation going."
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.