Deputy Principal
Kristen Waldron
Dear families,
With several apps and games in the news recently. Here's a parent-friendly summary of the main apps adolescents use, drawn from the eSafety Guide. Roblox is very topical at the moment, and parents have been asked to be vigilant, especially regarding its use by younger children.
Parents' Guide to Teen Apps
Social Media & Photo Sharing
A photo and video sharing platform where users follow friends, celebrities, and influencers. Teens use it to post photos, stories, and reels.
Snapchat
Users send photos, videos, and messages that disappear after viewing. Also has public "Discover" and "Spotlight" feeds with creator content.
BeReal
Prompts users once a day to take an unfiltered photo of themselves and their surroundings simultaneously. Aimed at more authentic sharing.
TikTok
Short video creation and discovery app. Very popular with teens for entertainment, trends, and creative expression.
Threads (by Meta)
A text-based social platform connected to Instagram where users share short posts, replies, and conversations. Teens use it to post thoughts, react in real time, and join trending conversations—often in a more casual, less curated way than Instagram.
Messaging & Chat
iMessage / Apple Messages
Apple's built-in messaging service for texts, photos, videos, and more between Apple devices.
W App (also known as Slay)
A newer app aimed at young people that lets them interact with school friends through semi-anonymous positive polls and profiles.
Gaming
Roblox
A platform where users can play thousands of games created by other users, and build their own. Very popular with younger teens.
Minecraft
A virtual building and exploration game where players create worlds and interact with others online.
Fortnite
A hugely popular multiplayer battle game with in-app chat features.
Apex Legends
A free-to-play multiplayer battle game available on consoles and PC.
Video & Streaming
YouTube
User-generated video platform for watching and sharing videos. Teens use it for entertainment, tutorials, and following creators.
Twitch
A live streaming platform primarily for gaming, where users can watch or broadcast live and chat in real time.
Kick
A newer live streaming platform similar to Twitch.
Discussion & Community
A news and discussion site organised into topic-based communities. Users share stories, links, images, and have conversations.
X (formerly Twitter)
A public social media service for short posts.
Often used for news, opinions, and following public figures.
A note for Australian families
As of 10 December 2025, Australia's world-first social media age restrictions mean that platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, X, YouTube, Twitch, and Kick cannot allow Australians under 16 to hold an account. However, teens can still view some content without logging in, and risks remain on gaming and messaging platforms.
For detailed safety tips on any specific app — including how to adjust privacy settings and report harmful content — visit the full eSafety Guide at esafety.gov.au.