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How to Set Up Instagram Privacy Settings Safely for Your Child

How to Set Up Instagram Privacy Settings Safely for Your Child

Julia Huber

Instagram is extremely popular among children and teenagers – posting photos, sharing stories, sending messages. But it’s also a place where strangers can quickly make contact. With the right privacy settings, you can make sure your child uses Instagram much more safely – without taking away the fun.

1. Set the account to “Private”

The first and most important step is to set your child’s account to private so only approved followers can see their content.

How to do it:

  • Open profile
  • Tap the three lines in the top right
  • Select Settings and Privacy
  • Account Privacy → Activate Private Account

2. Block messages from strangers

You can control who can send your child messages. Recommended setting: Only people your child already follows.

How to do it:

  • Settings and Privacy → Messages
  • Under Who can send you message requests, disable options for strangers

3. Adjust Story settings

Stories are often more personal than regular posts, so tighter control is important.

How to do it:

  • Settings and Privacy → Story
  • Hide Story From: Select people who should not see stories
  • Allow replies to stories: Limit to followers or turn off completely

4. Restrict tags and mentions

This prevents your child from being tagged or mentioned without permission.

How to do it:

  • Settings and Privacy → Tags / Mentions
  • Set to Only people you follow or No one

5. Control comments

You can decide who is allowed to comment.

How to do it:

  • Settings and Privacy → Comments
  • Limit Allow comments from to friends or followers
  • Block offensive words using the filter function

6. Turn off activity status

When activity status is off, others can’t see when your child was last online.

How to do it:

  • Settings and Privacy → Messages
  • Turn off Show Activity Status

7. Enable parental supervision

Instagram offers parental supervision, allowing you to see how much time your child spends on the platform, who they are connected with, and to guide any changes to their settings. For accounts of children under 16, all account setting changes must be approved by the parents before they take effect.

How to do it:

  • Settings and Privacy → Parental Supervision
  • Follow the steps to link your parent account with your child’s account

8. Review and adjust regularly

Privacy isn’t a one-time setup. Instagram frequently updates its features – review the settings regularly with your child and adapt as needed.

With these settings, you give your child the opportunity to use Instagram consciously and safely. Going through the options together also helps them learn how to take care of their own privacy.

How Helmit can help

Helmit helps you keep your child’s safety on Instagram under control. Through the app, you can link your child’s social media accounts and get notified when strangers send messages on Instagram or when content seems suspicious – for example, if someone asks for personal information or pushes for a meeting. This way, you can step in in time if necessary, without violating your child’s privacy. You can find more information about Helmit here.

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