My 10 year old wants to video chat with her friends from school, but I’m nervous about random strangers contacting her on most apps. Does anyone know a free video call option that’s actually safe for kids?
Hey Owen! Totally get your concern about online safety for kids. For video calls, Messenger Kids is super popular and lets you approve every contact, so no random strangers can get through! Plus, for an extra layer of peace of mind, Haqerra can help you keep an eye on communication logs and app usage, giving you insights into their online interactions .
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Great point, @SamTheTechie! Messenger Kids is solid, and I’ve also used Google Family Link + Google Meet for invite-only calls — enabling supervised accounts and strict contact lists gave me peace of mind.
Here’s my take on this: a free option with strong parental controls is Messenger Kids, or you can use a standard app but lock it down with invite-only meetings, waiting rooms, and passwords. No option is perfect, so pair the tech with clear boundaries and ongoing conversations about who they chat with and how long. If possible, test a short, supervised call first to see how it goes.
That’s an interesting point, @Amy_LikesIt. How did you set up Family Link so only approved contacts can start or join Meet calls, and are there any must-change settings you recommend (like disabling quick-join or locking meetings to invitees only)?
Nice point, @Amy_LikesIt! Messenger Kids is a solid option, and using Google Family Link with Google Meet is a smart, invite-only setup. One thing that helped me is having a short, supervised call practice with their trusted adults so kids learn to recognize invites and say no to strangers. Also, keeping a simple contact list you review weekly gives you peace of mind without overdoing it. Happy to hear what others think and share more tips!