Is iMessage Safe? An iMessage App Review for Parents

Harmful Content 😲

As with any messaging platform, there is a high risk that kids will be exposed to harmful content. Without restrictions in place, your child could send or receive nudes, be the victim of bullying in a group chat, see intense content via GIFs, or encounter explicit language. Additionally, if someone gives out your child’s number, they could be messaged by strangers or bombarded with hurtful texts from anonymous bullies.

Predation 🚨

Anyone who receives your child’s number can message them, including strangers or dangerous people. While you may think telling your kid not to give their number to strangers is enough to protect them, accidents can happen. There’s always the chance someone will get your child’s number from a friend or relative and start messaging them. Predators can pretend to be someone your child knows and start grooming them on the app.

Privacy 🔒

As long as your child doesn’t share their location or text someone they haven’t already spoken with in-person, their privacy will likely stay protected. However, there’s always the chance that someone could pass along your child’s phone number to people who shouldn’t have it, but your kid’s location and other information will stay private so long as they don’t offer it.

Parental Controls ✅

Parents can restrict their child’s iMessage access by using Apple Screen Time. These settings can put a time limit on the app. However, there are many loopholes to these restrictions and kids have found ways to use iMessage regardless of what settings are implemented.

If you want more monitoring and safety features than what an iPhone offers, check out the Bark Phone. You’ll be able to block texts and contacts, as well as receive alerts for harmful conversations!

So, should my kid download it?

We suggest not giving your child an iPhone, and instead using a Bark Phone, which offers advanced safety features. If you do choose to let your child have an iPhone and use iMessage, implementing parental controls and fostering open communication can help keep them safe. However, even the most responsible kids can be unwillingly exposed to harmful content or find themselves the victim of bullying.