Tumblr is a microblogging site that lets you share things like text, photos, videos, GIFs, quotes and links. You can customise your page, share other people’s posts and send private messages. Adult content is not allowed on Tumblr but you might still come across it.
Official age rating
Net Aware age recommendation
Tumblr lets you filter out inappropriate content. Agree what should be filtered out with your child and add the tags under ‘filtered tags’ in settings.
Sitting down with your child and exploring Tumblr together is a great way for you to learn more about why they might want to use it.
It will also give you an opportunity to chat with them about the importance of privacy settings and set them up together.
You should check out Tumblr’s guide to Privacy Settings to help you decide which ones might be appropriate for your child.
It’s important to check the privacy settings on your child's Tumblr account to make sure what they're posting and sharing is kept private or only with friends.
There are a few ways you can increase your privacy on Tumblr, including:
Tumblr has information on their privacy options. We recommend discussing and exploring these with your child to make sure you both feel safe and secure when using the platform.
Show your child how to report posts on Tumblr incase they come across something that upsets them. To report a post:
1) Select the three dots.
2) Select Report.
To report an account:
1) Go to the account you want to report.
2) Select their username and the human icon.
3) Choose Report.
Some kids might use Tumblr to connect with people who have similar interests to them. You should make sure you chat with them regularly about who they’re talking to on the platform.
Remind them to never share personal information such as, names, location, social media handles or schools.
We would recommend they only chat to friends they have actually met , like their school friends or people they know from other offline activities.
As Tumblr is a sharing platform you should talk to your child about the types of things they’re sharing on the app.
Speak to them about some of the risks of sharing too much information online and remind them to never share images or videos of themselves with other people on the platform.
Tell them to come to you for advice about whether something is appropriate to share. You might want to check out our advice article Should I be worried about my child sharing images and videos online? for some additional tips.
Explain that you understand the internet is a great place to play, create, learn and connect. But remind them they can talk to you if anything upsets or worries them.
Reassure them that you won’t overreact – you’re just looking out for them.
It’s important to remind your child that they can talk you, another adult they trust, like a teacher, or Childline about anything they see online.
Having open, regular conversations with your child will help you to really understand and explore the online world together. Our tips and advice can help you start these conversations.
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