You have probably heard of Reddit. It’s one of the most visited websites in the world, with pages dedicated to virtually any subject. But if you have a child, you may ask: is Reddit safe for kids? Let’s find out and tell you how to keep your kid safe from possible dangers.
What Is Reddit?
Reddit is a website where people link to or post news, photos, videos, or text, with a comment section for discussion. Reddit consists of subreddits (specialty boards) and communities focusing on a specific topic or niche. The site is famous for its karma system, which are points you obtain from posting upvoted content or comments the subreddit agrees with or finds helpful. While Reddit grew in popularity in the 2010s, it was founded in 2005 and has had a rich and controversial history in its nearly 20 years of launching. Later, we will dive into some of Reddit’s controversies.
What Is Reddit Used for?
Reddit is used for discussing almost any topic. Its front page will direct people to its most popular subreddits: news, gaming, crypto, celebrities, and other broad topics. There are broad subreddits, and then there are more focused subreddits. For instance, your town may have its own Subreddit. With so many interests and niches within niches, millions of subreddits are out there, meaning that Reddit can be used for almost anything. It can be a website where you meet new people and discuss topics with people who may share your views.
Why Do Teens Like Reddit?
A majority of Redditors are adults, but there is a good chunk of Redditors who are under 18. Many teens like Reddit because it’s a website where they can meet people who share their interests, vent their frustrations, and meet people who are supposedly in their age range.
Reddit allows teens with the minimum age requirement being 13. Reddit is safe to use if you’re monitoring what they do. It has many upsides, which we just mentioned. However, Reddit has many bad actors, like any other social media website. One way to keep your children safe is by using parent-filtering apps like uMobix.
How to Block Reddit Using uMobix on Android
First off, pay for a uMobix subscription on the website. Once you’ve done this, access your child’s phone and install uMobix via the provided link you will receive. Once installed, the app is hidden. Then log into user space and control what they do. For example, there is a Browsers tab on the online dashboard. Enter Reddit.com in the blocked websites list; your child won’t access it now.
Also, don’t forget that it is possible to control the Reddit app use! Click the Applications tab to restrict your child from downloading or using the Reddit app. Besides blocking the website, uMobix lets you see your child’s activity. If you have a teenager, you may allow them to scroll through Reddit. Still, use uMobix to check up on them and ensure they are not visiting inappropriate subreddits or messaging suspicious individuals. Later, we’ll show you some examples of inappropriate subreddits in the past.
Are There Any Reddit Parental Controls?
If you don’t mind your child having a Reddit account but want to be safe about it, there are some ways you may restrict them from accessing specific content by changing some account settings. Here’s how:
- Open the dropdown menu and click on User Settings > Profile > Advanced.
- Uncheck Content Visibility and Active in Communities. This will keep your kid anonymous.
- Now, click on Privacy & Security. Uncheck Search Engine Indexing, preventing someone from discovering your kid’s profile in the search results. Also, mute problematic subreddits, customize who can message your child, and more. Click on Feed Settings to disable any adult content.
- Ensure your settings are saved, and grant access to the account to your child.
We should mention that these Reddit parental controls do not have much protection for them, as your kid can switch them back. We recommend using a Reddit spy app to ensure they do not change these settings. And even with these settings on, it’s always possible for your child to run into inappropriate content or people. Don’t let parental controls do all the work for you and step in when necessary.
The Dark Side of Reddit
Most people who use Reddit don’t have any ill intentions, but like with any worldwide social media hub, there are bad actors. While Reddit tries to ban people who break their rules and ban any questionable subreddits, there will always be dangers on this website. Let’s look at several internet safety concerns on Reddit.
Doxers
Doxing is when someone reveals personal information about someone, usually as an act of Internet vigilantism. The most infamous incident is after the Boston Marathon Bombing of 2013, where Redditors doxed someone they believed was the bomber. However, this person was not the culprit, and in fact, committed suicide earlier. The online witch hunt traumatized his family.
Hatred
Reddit is not a hate site, with most of its users being anti-racist. However, there have been many hate subreddits over the years. While many of them have been banned, they will always exist. Some subreddits may seem harmless but are designed to radicalize a child into believing hateful views.
Body Shaming and Cyberbullying
Over the years, there have been many subreddits dedicated to bullying others. One now-banned Subreddit, r/FatPeopleHate, needs no introduction. Some subreddits, such as r/RoastMe, are consensual and all in good fun. However, many subreddits and users are still dedicated to attacking people for their appearance or disability.
Dangerous Challenges
Reddit is not a website known for Internet challenges; that goes to websites like TikTok. However, there may still be communities out there on Reddit that can encourage your child to do Internet challenges, which often can be dangerous or illegal. Always keep your eyes peeled for any subreddits dedicated to doing dangerous acts for karma.
Gore
There are subreddits dedicated to violent content. Many of them have been banned, like r/WatchPeopleDie. However, your child may still run into violent content, whether real-life or fictional. If you don’t feel comfortable about your kid seeing that, be sure that you keep them monitored and step in if they have seen something traumatized.
Adult Content
Reddit allows NSFW content, with many subreddits dedicated to pornographic content. Reddit does have NSFW tags, meaning that someone can avoid this content. As mentioned, set up an account restricting access to NSFW content. With that said, there is always a possibility your offspring can still be exposed to it.
Child Predators
Like any website, Reddit can have sexual predators. Reddit has had a history of problematic subreddits, such as one dedicated to posting pictures of “jailbait” or underage people that the user found sexually attractive. One Subreddit, r/Teenagers, has no hard age restrictions and is infamous for having creeps try to infiltrate it.
Misinformation
Any Subreddit, especially political ones, will have people posting misinformation, intentionally or not. Due to the nature of Reddit, some misinformation may have upvotes, while debunking the misinformation may be downvoted to the bottom of the comments section. Reddit can be a helpful learning website, but always be skeptical about anything you read on it.
Scams
Sometimes, phishers, crypto scammers, catfishers, and others get past Reddit’s moderation. If your child is not careful, they may be exposed to several scams that can steal their personal information or cause them to lose money. Step in immediately if you suspect your offspring are exposed to scams.
How to Keep Teens Safe on Reddit: 4 Tips for Parents
- Monitor Group DMs
Reddit can direct messages to others. While your child can communicate with online friends their age, you should monitor their conversation for any bad actors. Use uMobix to drop alerts if your children types inappropriate keywords and see their messages in real time.
- Block Users Who Seem Suspicious
If your child runs into any users who seem predatory or like scammers, be sure that they block them or step in and block them yourself. If a user makes creepy comments towards your kid or asks them to give away their personal information, this is when you know that you should step in.
- Block NSFW subreddits and Turn Off NSFW
Reddit has many subreddits dedicated to adults. Ensure your child’s Reddit account has NSFW posts turned off, and block any subreddits with NSFW or inappropriate content.
- Use a Spy App
Finally, if you suspect that your kid is in danger or doing inappropriate things on Reddit, use a spy app to get to the bottom of any activities they do on Reddit.
Wrapping Up
Reddit can be fun for teens, but like any site, there are many dangers. Keep your kids safe by customizing their Reddit experience and use a spy app if you feel like they’re possibly being targeted. We hope this article was helpful to you. Keep your kids safe.
FAQ
The Reddit app is rated 17+ on Android. However, the Reddit app rating does not reflect the website. Reddit allows users 13 or over an account there. Of course, Reddit also has many subreddits specifically for people 18 or over. Be sure your child's Reddit experience is age appropriate.
It depends on the Subreddit. Many subreddits, especially those with heavy moderation, are generally safe to use. However, harmful content can still slip through the cracks. Some subreddits may have inappropriate content on them or have users who have bad intentions. Always research the subreddits your kid frequents.
Reddit is generally safe, but hackers may steal your child's information like any website. Be sure that your child's account has a strong password. Also, make sure that your offspring knows why it is necessary to avoid any suspicious posts or people asking them to give away sensitive information or click on suspicious links.
