15 Safe Social Media Apps for 10 Year-Olds: Top Picks for Parents

Finding the right social media apps for kids can feel overwhelming. While traditional platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat aren’t designed for children under 13, many young people feel excluded from digital conversations happening around them.

This comprehensive guide presents 15 carefully selected social media apps for kids that prioritize safety and privacy while delivering the creativity and communication that kids ages 10 and up seek. Each platform for kids has been evaluated based on COPPA compliance, robust moderation systems, meaningful parental controls, and age-appropriate content quality designed specifically for children.

Our Top Picks for Safe Messaging Apps and Social Media For Kids

1. Facebook’s Messenger Kids 💬

Best for Family Communication

Facebook’s Messenger Kids provides comprehensive communication tools with industry-leading parental oversight. This platform for kids allows kids to connect with approved family and friends while providing a secure messaging experience under strict privacy controls.

Key Features: Video calling options with fun filters, animated stickers and emojis, no advertisements or in-app purchases, complete conversation history access ensuring a positive experience for families.

Visit: https://www.messengerkids.com 

2. Kinzoo 👪

Best All-in-One Family App

This platform designed for children combines secure messaging with collaborative family features. Kinzoo operates as one of the safest messaging apps for kids that allows kids to participate in family conversations while providing a secure environment for creative activities and goal-setting.

Unique Elements: No ability for children using the app to receive unsolicited friend requests, educational storytelling tools, goal-tracking for family activities under parental supervision.

Visit: https://www.kinzoo.com/kinzoo-messenger 

3. Grom Social 🛡️

Best Training Ground Platform

Designed by kids for kids, Grom Social provides experience with social networking features within a heavily supervised secure environment. Kids are participating in posts, videos, and games while learning digital citizenship.

Educational Focus: Daily human moderation, lessons about online safety, anti-bullying initiatives, user verification processes.

Visit: https://www.gromsocialenterprises.com 

4. JusTalk Kids 📞

Best for Video Communication

This media platform designed for children prioritizes secure communication through end-to-end encryption while providing engaging features that make video calling educational and fun.

Interactive Features: Drawing and doodling during calls, educational games during conversations, comprehensive parental dashboards for oversight.

Visit: https://kids.justalk.com

5. Zigazoo 🎬 

Best for Creative Learning

Zigazoo is a social platform for children to explore creativity through educational video challenges. This safe and engaging platform designed specifically for children allows kids to create and share content within a safe environment where content is reviewed by human moderators before publication.

Safety Features: All content is reviewed before going live, no comment sections to prevent cyberbullying, parental supervision required for friend requests and connections.

Visit: https://zigazoo.com 

More Kid-Friendly Apps for Safe Social Interaction

6. PopJam 🎨

Best for Creative Expression

• Combines social interaction with comprehensive art tools
• Strict moderation ensures all content reviewed before publication
• No private messaging or personal photo sharing allowed

Visit: https://popjam.ru.uptodown.com/android 

7. Azoomee 🎮

Best Educational Platform

• Integrates social interaction with educational games and curated videos
• Child-safe chat with preset phrases and moderated discussions
• Learning rewards system motivates engagement while tracking progress

Visit: Azoomee

8. LEGO Life 🧱

Best for Building Enthusiasts

• Official LEGO community for sharing building creations
• Sticker-based commenting eliminates inappropriate language risks
• Advanced image recognition ensures only LEGO-related content appears

Visit: LEGO Life

9. GeckoLife 📸

Best Private Family Sharing

• Private social media platform that allows kids to share pictures within family groups only
• Collaborative photo albums and shared family calendars providing a secure environment
• No advertising to children, minimal data collection with strict privacy policies

Visit: https://geckolife.com/site/home 

10. PK XD 🌍

Best Virtual World Experience

• Avatar-based interaction reduces physical appearance pressure in a safe environment
• Comprehensive chat filtering and human monitoring ensuring positive online experiences
• Collaborative games and virtual spaces children can design with creative activities

Visit: https://en.playpkxd.com 

11. Club Penguin (Revival Projects) 🐧

While the original is archived, family-friendly revival projects attempt to recreate the safe, imaginative environment that kids offer for teamwork and role-play within a secure platform.

Visit: https://www.cplegacy.com/

12. Home Base by Scholastic 📚

Reading-centric platform combining literacy development with safe social interaction, perfect for children who learn new things through book discussions under parental supervision.

Visit: https://kids.scholastic.com/kid/homebase/ 

13. Kuddle 🌎

Kuddle is a social photo-sharing app designed specifically for kids, offering a safe environment for them to share pictures and videos with friends and family. It emphasizes positive interactions and provides robust moderation to ensure all content is appropriate.

Visit: https://kuddle.pet/

14. YouTube Kids 💫

Google’s YouTube Kids offers a curated platform for children to explore videos with enhanced parental controls, content filtering, and educational focus providing a secure viewing experience.

Visit: https://www.youtubekids.com 

15. Village – Safe Social for Family 🏘️

Private social media platform for families that allows kids to share pictures and updates within trusted networks only, maintaining strict privacy and safety controls.

Visit: https://cybersafetycop.com/village-safe-social-for-family 

Apps to Avoid for Under-13 Users ⚠️

Mainstream platforms including TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and regular YouTube (without Kids mode) lack specialized safety features that social media apps for kids need. These platforms use business models depending on user data rather than providing a secure environment for children.

Why These Are Problematic:

• TikTok: Algorithmic content leading to inappropriate material, unsolicited friend requests from strangers
• Snapchat: Disappearing messages prevent parental supervision, location-sharing risks
• Instagram: Adult content exposure, cyberbullying through comments, social comparison pressure affecting positive online experiences

Essential Tips for Parents Using Social Media Apps 

Choose the Right Social Media Platform

Look for platforms that provide a fun and safe environment where kids ages 10 and up can engage in creative activities while maintaining safety and privacy. Consider whether the platform for children to explore offers appropriate content filtering and parental supervision tools.

Set Clear Rules and Boundaries

Establish consistent limits that prioritize face-to-face relationships, physical activity, and academic responsibilities. The goal is healthy integration rather than replacement of offline experiences in a safe and engaging digital space.

Encourage Open Communication

Create an environment where children using these apps feel comfortable discussing both positive interactions and concerning situations. Regular conversations about digital citizenship help develop good judgment.

Review and Monitor Regularly

• Check privacy settings monthly
• Review friend lists and app permissions
• Discuss new features or policy changes
• Show your children how to report inappropriate content

Choose Age-Appropriate Content

Look for platforms where kids can engage in discussions about their interests while learning new things in a secure environment. Consider types of content available and whether it supports your child’s development.

Co-Use Strategy Works Best

Spend time exploring platforms with your child, discussing safety features, and modeling appropriate online behavior. This collaborative approach builds trust while maintaining oversight.

Wrapping up on social media apps for 10-year-olds

Selecting appropriate social media and messaging apps for your 10-year-old requires ongoing evaluation based on maturity level, family values, and evolving safety features. The platforms listed here provide excellent starting points, but parental involvement remains the most crucial factor in digital safety.

Remember that no platform is perfectly safe, and your ongoing guidance, communication, and oversight create the foundation for healthy digital development. These recommendations from Common Sense Media editors help you choose platforms designed for young users where safety truly meets creativity.

Start with one or two apps, observe how your child responds, and gradually expand their digital world as they demonstrate responsible usage. The key is finding the right balance between connection and protection in our increasingly connected world.