These social media alternatives for kids give them social connection without sacrificing safety

In a world of Facebook posts, viral TikTok videos, Instagram stories, and quick tweets, kids are growing up naturally surrounded by all things social media. We gravitate towards it and admittedly, aimlessly scroll too late into the night. But when it comes to our kids and social media, we recognize its negative side effects, and for many parents, opening their child up to the chasm of comparisons and ever-changing trends with a social media account just isn’t ideal.

The good news though is that there are options outside of traditional social media that can help your child form a healthy relationship with social media–without the added baggage that comes with it. We want trustworthy, safe, educational replacements for social media for our kids of all ages, without sacrificing the social interaction that can be an obvious fun benefit for everyone online. These apps show it’s possible.

If you’re looking for something more trustworthy

For Danna Okuyama, a former finance executive and the founder of the recently launched Urban Sandbox, there’s a place for the right kind of social media for our children. “I do believe there is room for regulated, educational social media to benefit students by helping them foster positive attention, build healthy peer competition, gain confidence, cultivate friendships that combat loneliness and learn about different cultures and backgrounds,” she says.

Urban Sandbox is touted as a modern-day pen pal app and safe learning space for students that parents can trust. Within the app, users can discuss favorite topics, interact with teachers, and even publish a book. The company prides itself on making it a fun and collaborative learning environment.

“Understanding the richness of connecting with different cultures and experiences, my goal was to provide a way for kids to chat safely without stereotypes or judgment while learning from the educational content available,” says Okuyama. “With Urban Sandbox, students can engage like other platforms, without the concerns of unregulated content as parents have access to easily supervise activity and ensure safety. Complete with lessons from real credentialed educators – students have the opportunity to explore their passions and connect with those who have similar interests, and parents can rest assured knowing every interaction is safe.”

If you’re seeking a bully-free zone

If you’re looking for a social media app that keeps your child’s self-esteem in check, Spotlight might be the perfect fit. With a mission to “use the power of social media to build a more compassionate and kinder world,” Spotlight is a 100% COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule) compliant digital platform, which means they’ve met government requirements for keeping children under the age of 13 safe. The company states that no algorithms are used on their website and the content shared is strongly monitored by content moderators 24/7.

If you’re looking for something educational

Azoomee is a social platform that provides education, television and safe chatting options in one place for kids ages 5-10. It’s available on all devices, and the content is carefully selected by the company to provide a positive environment and learning experience. Whether your child is looking for inspirational stories or crafting ideas, Azoomee offers a wide range of activities that have been selected by educators and social media experts.

If your kid needs a replacement for their YouTube Kid addiction, this might be the place to start.

If safety and privacy top your list

If your kid is dying to post their first TikTok, you can start with an alternative. Geckolife allows families to share photos, ideas and posts with a select group of people. As the parent, you build the community and no information is shared outside of who you’ve chosen. Photos and chats are all confidential, and you can create a community with people who have similar interests to you or your child. Additionally, any media shared on Geckolife is archived for you so you’ve always got access to some of your child’s best memories.

Kinzoo provides technology products, including Messenger, Together and Studio, which allows families to communicate online together safely. You control who your family contacts are and who your child interacts with. Founded by a father, Kinzoo aims to develop a healthy and positive relationship with social media.

In a world that’s inherently digital, and where 97 percent of children aged 3 to 18 have internet access, these apps might be just the positive social media experience you’re looking for for your family–and maybe even you too.

A version of this story was originally published on Dec. 4, 2023. It has been updated.