5 Safe Online Communities for Teens That Parents Can Trust

Parents are right to be concerned about the risks of social media for teens. But online communities for teens can offer powerful opportunities for connection, connectivity, and identity development — especially for marginalized youth.

If you’re concerned about traditional social media or just want to help your teen find a supportive space well-suited to them, there are plenty of safe online communities geared toward teens. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits, how to evaluate if a platform is safe, and share a curated list of trusted, parent-approved options.

Is there a benefit to online communities for teens? 

There are many potential benefits to online communities for teens, including: 

• A supportive community and an opportunity to be heard
• Creative self-expression through writing, art, and video
• Representation and role models (especially for BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ teens living in less diverse communities)
• A safe environment to help them develop their identity
• The opportunity to feel empowered and participate in social justice movements
• A space to connect with others with similar interests when real-life community is lacking or not easily accessible

How do I know if an online community is safe for my child? 

Before letting your child take part in an online community, it’s important for you to evaluate if it’s appropriate for them. Here are some “green flags” that indicate it’s a safe online community: 

• Supported by a nonprofit or well-established organization
• Moderated by trained adults
• A strong age verification process
• Community guidelines outlining acceptable behavior, language, and content, as well as consequences for violators
• A process for reporting harassment or other inappropriate behavior.  
• Strong privacy settings that protect user identities
• Positive user reviews from both teens and parents. 

No site is perfect. Look for ones that have a solid number of green flags and take the time to explore the site with your teen to get an overall sense of the space. 

5 safe online communities for teens

Here’s our list of safe online communities and teen forums that you can feel good about letting your teen use:

1. TrevorSpace

TrevorSpace is a moderated social community designed as a safe space for LGBTQ people — and their straight allies — ages 13 to 24.

2. Voices of Youth 

Backed by UNICEF, Voices of Youth is a blogging and co-creation platform that gives users ages 13 to 24 the chance to use writing, photography, and video to express their thoughts on the issues they care about the most. 

3. DIY

Dedicated to the idea that any kid, anywhere, can learn any skill, DIY features hands-on project ideas, how-to videos, and a moderated, kid-first community guarded by parental controls. 

3. e-Buddies

e-Buddies is an online space dedicated to creating social inclusion and friendships for people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities through one-to-one friendship matching, virtual social events, and a social platform. 

4. Young People of Color Forum

The Young People of Color Forum is an online message board for young BIPOC users with strong community guidelines and a clear system for reporting issues. 

5. Write the World

Write the World is a nonprofit dedicated to developing teenagers’ writing and critical thinking skills. The website is a place for 13-19 year olds to share their writing, respond to prompts, attend writing workshops, enter competitions for free, and receive feedback on their writing from experts and peers.

What parents can do

Even with safer platforms, it’s important for parents to stay involved in their child’s digital life. Here’s how:

• Join together. Explore the platform with your teen and discuss what to expect.
  
• Check community guidelines. Help your teen understand the rules and how to report concerns.
  
• Use a monitoring app. Tools like BrightCanary let you supervise your teen’s online activity, including searches and social media, without hovering over their shoulder.

While online friendships can be quite meaningful, it’s also helpful to help your teen find ways to make friends in real life, too.

The final word

Although social media comes with risks, it can also be an important place for teens to find a safe, supportive community of like-minded peers. Parents should look for green flags like strong community guidelines, adult moderators, and positive parent and teen reviews. Even when teens use vetted online spaces, parents should still take an active role in monitoring their internet activity. 

BrightCanary makes it easier to stay on top of your child’s digital world. Whether your teen is exploring new communities or chatting with friends, BrightCanary helps you stay in the loop through AI-powered monitoring, summaries, and concerning content updates. Download the app today to get started.