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Privacy · iPhone / Android / PC · 5 min · Updated September 2026

Privacy check for your child’s profiles

Most apps have settings your child can change themselves. A quick check together often takes 10–15 minutes per app — and shows what others can actually see. That is better than guessing or looking behind their back.

Phone with a map and a location pin

In short

Sit down with your child’s phone. Check username and bio, profile photo, who can see posts, and whether location is shared. Fix it together — and agree when to check again. Start with the app they use most.

  1. 1

    Username and bio

    Open the profile together. Can strangers see full name, school, town, or birthday? Usernames should not reveal age, school, or address. Bio and links: remove phone numbers, Snap codes, or invites to private groups if they should not be public. Ask your child what they think others should be able to see.

  2. 2

    Profile photo

    Is the photo neutral enough to be public? Avoid school uniform, doormat, number plate, or bedroom in the background. Many children want a photo — an avatar or neutral picture is often better than a full face if the profile is open. Also check old profile photos if the app keeps history.

  3. 3

    Who can see posts and stories

    Find privacy settings in the app — often under Profile → Settings → Privacy. Choose friends or only me instead of everyone where possible. Also check whether old posts are still public: some apps have a button to limit past content. Stories often disappear after 24 hours — but screenshots do not.

  4. 4

    Location and maps

    Turn location off in the app if it is not needed — for example Snap Map, Instagram location on posts, or TikTok’s “find friends nearby”. Also check the phone’s Settings → Privacy → Location Services: which apps have access, and is it Always or While Using? «Always» can share location even when the app is closed.

  5. 5

    Messages and friend requests

    Can everyone message your child, or only friends? Turn off “suggestions” and “find by phone number” if the app has them. Go through the friends list together: does your child know the person in real life? Remove contacts they do not recognise. Agree they tell you if a stranger messages them.

  6. 6

    Agree on a routine

    Write down three things you changed — and set a date for the next check, for example in three months or when your child starts a new school. Technical settings stick better when your child understands why — not only because parents say so. Repeat the check when they get a new phone or new app.

If someone uses your child’s information to threaten, harass, or groom them, contact SletDet at Save the Children Denmark. The Parents’ Helpline at Børns Vilkår can help with the conversation: 35 55 55 57. Save screenshots if you want to report.

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More help in Denmark

If you need someone to talk to, use these — they are free, and they take parents and children.

  • Parents’ Helpline 35 55 55 57

    Børns Vilkår. Free, anonymous counselling for parents and relatives in Denmark on 35 55 55 57. They take calls about screens, conflict and online problems.

  • Media Council for Children and Young People

    Public guidance in Denmark on children, young people and digital media. Advice on age, content and parent conversations — without sales language.

  • SletDet counselling 29 27 01 01

    Save the Children’s free counselling in Denmark for children, young people and parents facing bullying, image sharing, hacking and other harmful experiences online. Call 29 27 01 01. You do not need everything sorted before you call.

Sources