Threads
Our age is 16. Caution because of an open public feed where strangers can reply and quote their posts.
Setup steps checked October 2026.
- Our rating
- Caution
- Plays on
- iPhone, iPad, Android
Configure Threads privacy settings, restrict who can interact with your teen's account, manage content sensitivity settings, and understand how Threads differs from Instagram.
Talk about it
- What kinds of conversations do you follow on Threads?Shows you whether their feed is friends and hobbies or public arguments with strangers.
- Has anyone you don't know replied to or quoted one of your posts?Opens the door to talk about public posts and how to restrict or block someone.
- Is there anything you'd post on Threads that you wouldn't want a teacher or future boss to see?Gets them thinking about how public and lasting a text post can be.
- How does scrolling Threads usually leave you feeling?Helps them notice when the feed is draining rather than fun.
The full guide
Threads is Meta's text-based social network, closely tied to Instagram. Launched in 2023, it has become a popular alternative to X (Twitter). While Threads is less risky than some platforms, its open nature and Instagram integration require thoughtful setup.
Understanding Threads
How Threads Works
Threads is a text-based social platform where users post updates, reply to others, and discover content from people they don't follow. Posts can include:
- Text (up to 500 characters)
- Photos and videos
- Links
- Replies and quote posts
Threads and Instagram Connection
Most Threads profiles are linked to an Instagram account. This means:
- Most people sign in with their Instagram account (Meta has been testing other sign-up options)
- Threads can suggest following the same people they follow on Instagram
- You can delete or deactivate a Threads profile without deleting Instagram
- One Family Center invitation can cover both apps
If you supervise your teen on Instagram, you can add Threads to the same Family Center invitation instead of starting over.
Privacy Settings
Make the Account Private
Teen Accounts start private. Keep "Private profile" ON. With a private account:
- Only approved followers can see posts
- New follower requests must be approved manually
- Posts don't appear in public search
For teens under 16, switching to public needs your permission if you supervise them.
Who Can Reply to Posts
When creating a post, or in global settings, configure who can reply:
- Anyone: Open to all — not recommended for teens
- Profiles you follow: Only people the account follows
- Profiles you mention: Only explicitly tagged people
Set to "Profiles you follow" for teen accounts.
Who Can Quote Your Posts
Quoting allows anyone to embed and respond to a post publicly. Encourage teens to be aware of this and to set posts to followers-only visibility.
Interaction Controls
Restrict Accounts
Restricting an account means:
- Their replies are only visible to them unless approved
- Their DMs go to message requests
- They can't see when you've read their messages
Use this for known problematic accounts without full blocking.
Block Accounts
Blocking prevents all interaction. Blocked accounts can't see posts, reply, or message.
Mute Accounts
Muting hides an account's posts from the feed without notifying them. Useful for reducing exposure without creating conflict.
Content Sensitivity Settings
Sensitive Content Control
Threads offers a content sensitivity filter similar to Instagram's. Teen Accounts start with limits on the content they see, and through supervision you approve changes to their sensitive-content preference.
For teens, keep the most limited option to reduce exposure to sensitive content.
Hidden Words
Enables automatic filtering of offensive words and phrases in comments and DM requests. Turn this ON. You can also add custom words to the filter.
Add words related to topics you're concerned about for your teen. Hidden Words automatically hides those words in comments on their posts.
Direct Messages and Message Requests
Threads Has Its Own DMs — But Only for Adults
In mid-2025 Threads launched its own direct messaging inbox, separate from Instagram's. Importantly for parents: Threads DMs are limited to users 18 and older — teen accounts cannot send or receive Threads DMs. Teens can still message through Instagram, so the Instagram settings matter too.
Message Request Filtering (18+ Accounts)
For adult accounts, messages from people you don't follow go to a message requests inbox, where links and media are disabled. Who can message you (people you follow, or anyone) is configurable from the DM inbox settings in the Threads app.
Supervision on Threads
Teen Accounts and Family Center
Threads has Teen Accounts with built-in protections, and parental supervision rolled out in the US in July 2026 and worldwide in September 2026:
- Teen Accounts start private, with limits on the content they see
- Under-16s need your permission to loosen these settings
- See time spent and set a daily limit, plus blocked days and hours
- Sleep mode mutes notifications from 10 PM to 7 AM by default, and you can adjust it
- Control who can tag your teen
Set it up at familycenter.meta.com/supervision, or from Family Center in the app. If you already supervise them on Instagram, add Threads to the same invitation. See the Instagram Safety Guide for setup details.
Reporting Harmful Content
Report a Post
Report categories include:
- Spam
- Self-harm or suicide
- Harassment or bullying
- Hate speech
- Violence
Report an Account
Encourage Reporting
Let your teen know that reporting is always the right move for content that makes them uncomfortable. The person they report isn't told who reported them.
What Threads Does Well
Compared to X (Twitter)
Threads has several advantages over X for teen safety:
- No explicit content sections
- Stronger default content filters
- Teen Accounts and Meta's Family Center supervision
- No DMs for anyone under 18
Still, it's an open public platform and requires the settings above.
Quick Setup Checklist
Additional Resources
Threads is now configured with private account settings and content filters. Combined with Instagram's supervision features, your teen can engage with Threads more safely.