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The Top 5 Apps Every Parent Should Be Aware Of in 2025
- Charlie
- Apr 17
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 18
The online world is constantly changing, and so are the apps your children are using. In 2025, new platforms appear quickly, whether that be through a new trend on social media or new technology; many parents are struggling to keep up. While not every app is dangerous, some have features that can expose younger users to inappropriate content, strangers, or unsafe behaviour.
Here's a breakdown of the top 5 apps all parents should be aware of this year, and what you need to know about them.
Discord
Originally built for gamers, Discord is now a major chat platform where users can join or create servers based on interests. Servers can have text channels, voice chats, video calls, and a lot more.
Despite being popular with teenagers, Discord is not a safe space for children. There is minimal content moderation, and many servers contain explicit language, sexual content, abusive topics, and unfiltered conversations. The ease with which strangers can message users directly is even more concerning, often under fake names and identities.
While the platform has some privacy features, they are not enough to protect children from the potential exposure to grooming, cyberbullying, or harmful content. Many predators use Discord specifically because of its loopholes and anonymity features.
Even private servers between friends can become toxic or inappropriate without adult oversight. The platform is also known for hosting communities that promote harmful ideologies, extreme content, or illegal activities.
Recently, in the US, New Jersey filed a lawsuit against Discord, accusing it of exposing children to graphic violence, sexual abuse, and online predators. The platform, with more than 200 million users, has become a hotspot for grooming and exploitation, often without parents even realising their child is at serious risk.
Despite promoting itself as a safe space, Discord's age restrictions are easily bypassed, and its safety features, like automatic content filters, were either limited in scope or not turned on by default. Disturbing cases have emerged globally where adults have used the app to target minors, some leading to abduction and criminal charges. The lawsuit claims that Discord knowingly downplayed these risks while failing to take action to protect children online. As a result, many experts and parents now agree that Discord is not a safe environment for under-18s.
We strongly advise parents to keep children and teens off Discord entirely. Until significant changes are made to protect younger users, we believe Discord poses an unacceptable risk to children's safety and well-being online.
TikTok
TikTok is often seen as harmless fun - a place for dances, comedy, and viral trends. But behind the scenes, it's one of the most powerful algorithms online, and that comes with risks for young users.
The 'For You Page' is highly personalised and can lead users down dangerous rabbit holes. A few taps on the wrong video, and the algorithm may start pushing self-harm content, conspiracy theories, or sexually suggestive videos - Even if you or your child didn't search for them.
Another worrying issue, not just TikTok but all social media platforms are facing, is Trends and Challenges. It may seem silly, but some trends that originated from TikTok have been physically dangerous or emotionally harmful. For example, in 2023, there was a trend where explicit images were hidden inside normal photos and users were encouraged to find the explicit image; this was one way people were able to bypass TikTok's moderation system.
TikTok comment sections can be brutal. Although TikTok make an effort to remove certain comments that violate their Terms of Service compared to other platforms, there are still a lot of comments out there exposing young creators to cyberbullying, body shaming, and inappropriate attention.
TikTok Live has quickly become popular among younger users, offering them a way to connect with large audiences in real time. However, this feature is increasingly being misused. Some individuals — including predators and teens looking for a laugh — post comments that appear innocent but are designed to trick creators into saying phrases that sound inappropriate when spoken aloud. Others may use more manipulative tactics, such as asking, “Can I see the length of your hair?” — a seemingly harmless request that is intended to get young users to turn around and reveal their bodies to the camera.
What can you do? Well, to ensure your child has a safe yet enjoyable experience on TikTok, you should follow our advice:
Set up Family Pairing - TikTok's parental control feature that allows you to restrict content, manage screen time, and limit who can message them.
Encourage Critical Thinking - Just because it's viral doesn't mean it's safe or real.
Make talking about Digital Wellbeing a hot topic in your family - How scrolling can affect moods, sleep, and self-image.
TikTok has potential for creativity and learning, but without limits, it can become overwhelming or unsafe. Regular conversations go a long way in keeping your child protected.
Snapchat
Still one of the most popular apps among teens, Snapchat's disappearing messages, private stories and "Snap Maps" (which shows real-time location) can create safety risks, especially for young users. It's also a platform where grooming, sextortion, and anonymous contact can happen.
Snapchat's main design is to encourage users to communicate through photos, hence the term "Snap". This has created large discussions on how safe the platform is for teens, with a reputation for sending explicit photos, often believing that the disappearing messages feature of messages and snaps makes it "safe". Unfortunately, this creates a false sense of security as screenshots can still be taken, and third-party apps can be used to save content. Furthermore, Snapchat stores all deleted messages on a server, meaning nothing is ever permanently deleted.
Snapchat also offers a feature known as "Quick Add", where the app will suggest new friends to a user. This often suggests strangers to add and encourages you to speak to them by notifying you when a new suggestion has been submitted.
However, Snapchat offer a parental control function known as 'Family Centre'. This allows you as a parent to view who your child has recently spoken with and who they have added as a friend. Unfortunately, parents do not have access to read their child's messages, leaving a blind spot for parents.
What can you do? Well, to ensure your child has the safest experience on Snapchat, you should follow our advice:
Ensure you turn off "Snap Maps" or set it to Ghost Mode
Talk openly with your child about the dangers and how "temporary" messages/images can be saved or shared.
Encourage your child to come to you if something makes them feel uncomfortable, without the fear of punishment.
Snapchat isn't inherently bad, but without awareness and conversation, it can become a space where risky behaviour feels normal.
Uhmegle (Omegle)
For years, Omegle was one of the most controversial corners of the internet, a platform where strangers could video chat with each other anonymously, often with zero moderation. It was infamous for exposing kids and teens to explicit content, predators, and harmful interactions. In 2023, the site was finally shut down following lawsuits and increasing public pressure.
But now, Omegle is back under a new name. Uhmegle.
Like its predecessor, Uhmegle connects users with strangers via text or video chat. You never know who you're going to meet; it's like a dangerous digital roulette. On the surface, it might look harmless fun or a way to meet new people, but in reality, it's a breeding ground for inappropriate behaviour, exploitation, and predatory grooming.
There is no login required. No age verification. No serious content filtering. All your child needs is a device with access to the internet, and within seconds, they could be face-to-face with someone who has harmful intentions.
Beyond the physical risks, being exposed to disturbing content can leave a lasting effect on young people. Kids may be exposed to:
Sexual content and nudity
Hate speech or violent threats
Cyberbullying and harassment
Pressure to undress, share images, or do something on camera
What can you do? It's not always easy to keep up with the fast-moving world, but staying informed and proactive is key. Here's what we recommend:
Have an open conversation, don't scare your child, just explain why it's unsafe.
Use parental controls and monitoring tools to restrict access to known risky sites.
Explain the dangers of anonymity and that not everyone is who they say they are online.
Encourage active communication about online safety and who they're talking to
Roblox
At first glance, Roblox looks like a harmless and imaginative digital playground. It's colourful, creative, and wildly popular among kids and teens, offering them the chance to build their games, connect with friends, and explore virtual worlds. But beneath the surface lies a much darker side that every parent needs to be aware of.
One of the most concerning elements of Roblox is are so-called "Condo Games". These are user-created games that often slip past moderation and contain adult content, including sexual roleplay, inappropriate avatars, and explicit dialogue. They're sometimes disguised as ordinary games, making them dangerously easy for children to stumble into - intentionally or not.
These games are typically live for only a short period before being taken down, however, new ones are constantly popping up, often shared through coded names or links on external sites and platforms. The creators of these games know exactly what they're doing, and they know how to hide it.
Unfortunately, the problems don't stop with questionable content. Roblox also includes an in-game chat function, which, while filtered and monitored, can still be manipulated. Predators have been known to use Roblox as a tool to initiate contact with children, building trust before shifting conversations to less secure platforms like Discord, Snapchat, and more.
Many parents expect online platforms to take responsibility for child safety. But in a moment of surprise, Roblox CEO David Baszucki seemed to deflect responsibility when he stated that if parents are uncomfortable with the platform, they should "not let your kids be on Roblox".
That's not very reassuring, especially for a company that advertises itself as a safe, family-friendly environment. The comment has left many wondering whether profit and user growth are being prioritised over child protection.
What can you do? Despite the risks, Roblox doesn't have to be off-limits. With open communication with your child and consistent oversight, it's possible to make the platform a safer place for your children. Here's how:
Set up parental controls
Check game history regularly
Educate about online safety
Stay involved