When we were kids, “stranger danger” meant avoiding someone in a van. Today, it’s someone commenting in your child’s DMs, chatting in a Roblox game, or leaving a “harmless” comment on TikTok.
Predators don’t need to be in your neighborhood anymore. They’re already in the apps your child loves—and by default, most of those apps leave the doors wide open.
But here’s the good news: with a few quick setting changes, you can block the most common ways predators try to reach kids. These aren’t “nice-to-have” tweaks. These are must-change safety locks you can put in place today.
1. Turn Off “Anyone Can Message”
Predators usually don’t start with something scary. They start with a simple “hi.” That’s all they need to see if your child responds.
Lock it down here:
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TikTok: Profile → Menu → Settings & Privacy → Privacy → Direct Messages → No one (or Friends).
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Instagram: Profile → ☰ → Settings → Privacy → Messages → “Who can send you message requests?” → People you follow.
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Discord: User Settings → Privacy & Safety → Turn off “Allow direct messages from server members.”
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Snapchat: Settings → Who Can Contact Me → My Friends.
👉 Overprotective Aunt’s Tip: Sit with your child while you change this. Tell them: “Strangers don’t need a direct line to you. We’re locking the door.”
2. Lock Down Friend Requests
A favorite predator trick? Flooding kids with friend requests until one gets accepted. Once “in,” the wall crumbles.
Fix it here:
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Facebook: Settings → Privacy → “Who can send you friend requests?” → Friends of friends.
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Instagram & Snapchat: Turn off Quick Add / Suggested Friends.
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Roblox: Settings → Privacy → “Who can send me friend requests?” → Friends only.
👉 Overprotective Aunt’s Tip: The family rule is simple: “If we don’t know them in real life, they don’t need to be on our friends list.”
3. Restrict Game Chat Features
Games like Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft aren’t just “fun and harmless.” They’re some of the biggest predator entry points because of built-in chat.
Shut it down:
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Roblox: Settings → Privacy → “Who can chat with me in app?” → Friends (or No one).
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Fortnite: Menu → Settings → Audio → Voice Chat → Friends only (or Off).
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Minecraft (Bedrock): Use Microsoft Family Safety → Block “Chat with strangers.”
👉 Overprotective Aunt’s Tip: Kids will complain they “need chat” to play. Compromise with Friends only. Real friends stay. Strangers don’t.
4. Limit Who Can See Their Content
Predators often start by liking, commenting, or replying with emojis. It feels harmless—but it’s bait.
Here’s how to cut it off:
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TikTok: Settings → Privacy → Comments → Allow Friends only.
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Instagram: Settings → Privacy → Comments → Block comments from everyone except friends.
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YouTube (if your child uploads): Post videos as Private or Unlisted, never Public.
👉 Overprotective Aunt’s Tip: Remind your child: “Our photos and videos are for family and friends—not strangers.”
5. Activate Safety & Parental Controls
Platforms bury these tools deep in their menus, but they’re powerful when turned on.
Turn on now:
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YouTube / YouTube Kids: Scroll to the bottom of any page → Turn on Restricted Mode.
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Apple iOS: Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → Communication Limits → Contacts only.
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Google Family Link: Use to approve friend requests, manage chats, and block strangers before they ever get through.
👉 Overprotective Aunt’s Tip: Check these settings monthly. Some apps “reset” after updates.
Why This Matters
According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 98% of child exploitation cases begin with online contact.
Think of it like your home: would you leave the front door unlocked at night? These open settings are exactly that—unlocked doors predators can walk through.
The Overprotective Aunt Challenge
Here’s my challenge:
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Tonight: Change ONE of these settings.
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Tomorrow: Change another.
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By the end of the week: You’ll have built a digital wall most parents don’t even know exists.
You don’t have to be “techy.” You just have to be protective. Because predators don’t wait—so neither should we.
👉 Say it with me: “Not on my watch.”
Extra Protection Layer (Recommended by Overprotective Aunt)
Settings are step one. But predators adapt, and kids click on things we don’t always see. That’s why I recommend parents also use Bark—a tool that monitors texts, emails, YouTube, and 30+ apps for signs of predators, bullying, and dangerous content.
💡 Bark even sends real-time alerts to parents when something suspicious happens—so you don’t have to stalk your kid’s phone 24/7.
👉 Try Bark here — and add one more lock predators can’t get past.
✅ Takeaway: Predators thrive on easy access. These five settings shut their doors. Bark locks the windows. Together, that’s how you keep your child safe.
