Teenagers like to text. A lot. In fact, according to a survey done by Common Sense Media, more than half of U.S. teens send and receive over 200 messages a day. While this probably comes as zero surprise to parents, many may be left wondering what they can do to make sure their teens are texting safely and responsibly. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of nine texting safety tips for teens. Show it to your kiddo, or use it as a springboard for a conversation about texting safety.
Here are nine things you can do to stay safe while you text:
So you really vibed with someone on Insta and they want to connect. I know it’s super tempting, but remember that people sometimes lie, and the internet is a prime place for predators to target teens. Just because someone says they’re your age, doesn’t mean it’s true. They could easily be an older person looking to harm you. Taking your conversation to another platform for privacy is a red flag.
Be careful what information you give out over text. Even if you’re messaging someone you know in real life, it’s still wise to use caution. For example, it’s probably fine to tell your bestie that your family is dragging you on a two-week road trip this summer, but letting a semi-rando know your whereabouts could be a safety risk.
Group chats can be … rough. They can even reach toxic territory. If the vibes are off in a group chat and it’s making you stressed, it’s totally okay to bow out. Taking care of your mental health comes first. (If you don’t want to fully leave a chat, you can also hide alerts from it to give yourself a break.)
I know you don’t want to stop what you’re doing and text your parents back. But they need to know you’re safe, and if they don’t get a response from you, they’re going to worry. And you know that’s not going to make anybody’s life better. Just text them back.
Text messages are a prime target for scams and smishing (phishing over text). If you aren’t totally positive a link is safe, don’t click on it. Even if you trust the person who sent it, they could be unknowingly passing on bad info. And please, never click on a link from someone you don’t know.
Any text you send can be forwarded, screenshotted, saved, and shared. If you don’t want the whole world to see it, just don’t send it. Some things are better said in person or (heaven forbid) over the phone.
If someone says hurtful or inappropriate things to you over text, you don’t have to reply. No, really, I’m giving you full permission to not respond. Your emotional safety matters, too, and you don’t owe them anything. The same goes if someone has made you feel afraid or uncomfortable in any way.
If a message makes you feel unsafe (or even just weirded out), save it and show it to your parents or another trusted adult. It’s a good idea to get a grown-up set of eyes on any questionable texts. They can help you figure out if there’s anything you need to do about the situation beyond just ignoring the text.
Research consistently links distracted driving to higher crash rates, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cites texting as the “most alarming distraction.” Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds — which, at 55 mph, is equivalent to driving the entire length of a football field with your eyes closed. Yikes. Just don’t do it.
The typical teenager spends a lot of time texting. It’s important that parents help their kids educate themselves on how to do it responsibly by sharing these texting safety tips for teens. For an added layer of protection, parents can consider using a text monitoring service like BrightCanary.
