3 questions to ask your teen about the Instagram Threads app

Instagram’s Threads app made waves when Meta introduced it in July 2023 and it gained 30 million users in its first day (it took ChatGPT five days to reach 1 million). The app’s creators said they wanted to make it easier to share content anywhere. And while most Threads users are adults age 24 and up, chances are your teen will see a Threads post in their Instagram feed.

When a new social media app like the Threads app launches, it gives parents and their teens a reason to research these new platforms so they can make mindful decisions about when (and whether) to download. To help, we asked two experts to share their insights about Threads, as well as the questions parents should ask their teens before the kids join a new community online.

Threads is a microblogging site. Threads has been presented from the beginning as an alternative to the microblogging site Twitter/X, a status that’s been cemented through the platform’s distinct features and steady stream of updates. For example, posts to the Threads app can be twice as long as a tweet, with a maximum of 500 characters. Within five months of its launch, the platform rolled out its equivalent of the hashtag—text highlighted in blue without the hashtag mark—allowing users to search conversations based on their topic. Additionally, Threads can accommodate a wide range of post types, including text, photos, videos and—as of October 2023—voice memos.

What your teen should know: While it can be tough to resist the appeal of a new social media platform, it’s important to be mindful of how we’re spending our time online, says Dr. Devorah Heitner, author of “Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World.”

Question for teens:

“Is this a place where you can learn and grow and connect with people, or is it going to be a distraction?”

The experience depends on your network. “Everything on social media is about who you’re following,” Dr. Heitner says, adding that in her own use of the Threads app, she’s intentional about connecting with authors who support each other’s work. “If you’re following people who have negative intent, or who are using their platform to detract from others, it’s unlikely to be a good experience.”

What your teen should know: Regardless of the platform being used, teen social media users can learn to participate meaningfully in discussions online, including knowing when it’s best to walk away. “You always have to decide if your intervention is helpful or if your energy would be spent better elsewhere,” says Dr. Heitner.

Question for teens:

“How and what do you want to add to this conversation?”

A new platform is an opportunity to develop digital literacy skills. Exploring a new social media platform like the Threads app can be an opportunity to help your teen develop valuable online media literacy and safety skills. Ask them to do their own research into how the new platform collects and uses personal data—and if the content shared there is credible. This can be a crucial skill to develop for evaluating any online platform.

What your teen should know: Developing digital literacy begins with identifying online sources that are trustworthy. “Just because something has a lot of views or interactions doesn’t mean it’s credible,” says Dr. Nazanin Andalibi, assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Information. “It’s important for [younger social media users] to understand who’s providing the content they’re encountering. What are their sources? And what does it mean for a source to be credible?”

Question for teens:

“What kind of sources are shared on the Threads app?”

Block apps from their phone until they’ve done their research—with Smart Family.