What makes a social app safe for kids? A checklist
No app is risk-free. But the safest designs share a pattern, and it matches what pediatricians, psychologists and regulators ask for. Use this checklist on any app, including ours.
The short answer
Look for an app that is private by default, keeps strangers from contacting kids, collects as little data as possible, shows no targeted ads, doesn't push kids to keep scrolling, and makes it easy to block, report and get help. These match what the AAP, APA, the UK Children's Code and the EU's guidelines ask platforms to do. None of these bodies certify apps.
The checklist
| Look for | Who recommends it | OurDot |
|---|---|---|
| Private by default | UK Children's Code; EU guidelines; AAP 2026 | Yes: invite-only, nothing public |
| No contact from strangers; chat limited for minors | APA 2024; AAP 2026 | Yes: family only; no adult one-on-one chats with kids |
| Location off | UK Children's Code | Yes: no location tracking; photo location stripped |
| Minimal data, not shared | UK Children's Code; APA 2024 | Yes: no ads, no data sales |
| No profiling or targeted ads | UK Children's Code; AAP 2026; EU | Yes: no ads at all |
| No autoplay, streaks or engagement nudges | UK Children's Code; EU; AAP 2026; APA 2024 | Yes: feed ends; no streaks |
| No public popularity metrics | APA 2024 | Yes: private hearts only |
| Time and time-of-day limits | APA 2024; Surgeon General 2023 | Yes: sleep mode, school mode, game time |
| Parental tools the child knows about | UK Children's Code; APA 2023 | Yes: kids see what guardians can see |
| Easy block and report, with a fast response | UK Children's Code; EU | Yes: on every post and message |
| A child-safety team accountable to leadership | AAP 2026 | Reports go to our small review team |
| Effective age assurance | Ofcom; EU | Not yet: guardians choose age ranges; no ID checks |
We included the row where OurDot falls short on purpose. A checklist is only useful if it's honest.
Questions to ask about any app
- Who can find my child, and who can message them?
- Does the feed end? Is there autoplay?
- Are there public likes, followers or streaks?
- How does the app make money? If it's ads, what does it know about my child?
- Can my child report something easily, and who reads it?
- Will my child know what I can see?
Sources
- AAP, Calls for creating a child-friendly digital world (Jan 20, 2026)
- APA, Potential risks of content, features, and functions (Apr 2024)
- ICO, Age Appropriate Design Code v2.1
- Taylor Wessing, European Commission guidelines on protection of minors under the DSA (Jul 2025)
- Ofcom, Age checks one year on (Jul 15, 2026)