💬 Social apps and messaging
Threads
By Meta. Visit Threads
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
Meta's text-first social app for short public posts and replies, signed into with an Instagram or Facebook account. Teens use it to follow creators, news and friends. Profiles made by under-18s are private by default, though name, photo, username and bio are always public. Teen Accounts protections apply, and in 2026 Meta began adding Family Center supervision for Threads, starting in Asia Pacific in September, with time limits, sleep mode, tagging and privacy controls. Posts can also be shared to the fediverse.
Our take: Low priority for kids; if a teen 13+ wants it, keep the private default and set up supervision where available.
| Ages it suits | 13+ |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Threads uses Instagram's rules on who may use the service, so you must be at least 13; you sign in with an Instagram or Facebook account. (terms) |
| Price | Free. Free with ads (Oct 2026). |
| Works on | iPhone and iPad, Android, Web |
| Account | The child's own account |
| Ads | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
| The AI in it | Recommendation systems rank the feed; Meta AI and AI characters are Meta-wide features, and teens' access to AI characters is paused. |
What's good
- Under-18 profiles private by default
- Teen Account protections
- Parental supervision rolling out
- Text-first, fewer videos
Watch for
- Public posts and replies from strangers
- Supervision not yet everywhere
- Ads and Meta data sharing
- On Australia's under-16 restricted list
Data and privacy
Threads is covered by Meta's privacy policy, which uses activity, including interactions with AI features, to personalize content and ads across Meta apps. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
No independent study of Threads found. Meta's August 2026 settlement with 48 states covers Instagram and Facebook features; Threads is on Australia's under-16 restricted list.
In the Big Index
- The maker in the who's who: Meta
Alternatives to Threads
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Apple Messages and FaceTime (Communication Safety)
Apple · ages any age with a parent-made child account; teens 13-17
Worth turning on for any child with an iPhone or iPad; pair it with contact limits for younger kids.
Desk researchFree
BeReal
BeReal SAS · ages 13+
A lower-pressure social app for teens 13+ with real-life friends; younger kids should wait.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Discord (Family Center, teen-by-default)
Discord Inc. · ages 13+
Workable for teens 13+ who mainly chat with real-life friends, with Family Center on; too open for younger children.
Desk researchFree
Instagram (Teen Accounts)
Meta · ages 13+
For teens 13+ only with supervision set up in Family Center; parents should not rely on Teen Accounts alone.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Kinzoo Messenger
Kinzoo · ages young kids to tweens, on a parent-made account
A good first messenger for under-13s whose friends will also join; check the in-app store settings.
Desk researchFree
Lemon8
TikTok USDS Joint Venture (US) · ages 13+
No reason for kids under 13; for teens it carries the same data terms as TikTok without TikTok's parent tools.
Where these facts come from
- https://help.instagram.com/769983657850450
- https://help.instagram.com/225222310104065
- https://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/threads-introduces-parental-supervision-for-teens-in-apac/
- https://about.fb.com/news/2025/10/teen-ai-safety-approach/
- https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/threads/id6446901002
- https://www.wcax.com/2026/08/26/meta-reaches-17-billion-settlement-with-states-landmark-trial-over-teen-social-media-addiction/
- https://heatleyss.eq.edu.au/support-and-resources/cybersafety/social-media-minimum-age
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.