Avoiding Parents Online: Why it Isn’t as Easy as You Think

by Olivia Collins

Let’s face it, teenagers don’t want their parents to see their social media accounts. We want to swear, and talk about partying, and post pictures of ourselves at parties without fear of repercussion. However, so many aspects play into avoiding Mom and Dad; it really depends on the exact social media site and the parents. 

Some parents tend to be more tech savvy than others, but some platforms tend to be more susceptible to parent use than others. Do you know which are best for evading parental snooping?

Take Facebook, for example; it’s nearly impossible to hide on there. Teenagers accepted long ago that parents had already infiltrated Facebook, and it was time to move on.

Though a new report by Business Insider claims that “Facebook has more daily teen users than any other social network” we’re mostly there for show. We check in here and there to post a nice picture or make a status about how well we did on our report card, but that’s the extent.

There are features that make it possible to block parents from seeing certain posts, however it would take a lot of time and effort to ensure posts can’t get back to parents via third parties.  You’d have to block every “Great Aunt Whatsername” you haven’t spoken to in years, but comments on everything you post.

Teenagers have grudgingly accepted this and moved elsewhere. Facebook has sort of become the place where teenagers occasionally step into their parents’ world, as opposed to the opposite.

I do have some good news though – there’s hope for Twitter and Instagram. It’s easier to hide on those for many reasons. First, you don’t need to provide a full and real name, or any personal information really. They also aren’t as adamant about making sure everyone knows exactly what you’re doing constantly. It’s difficult to find someone who isn’t active with the people you follow, unless you’re really looking.

Good Sneaky Apps

For those who are really keen on making sure their parents know nothing (and their friends know everything), Snapchat and Tumblr are the apps for you. A Snapchat name is similar to a phone number in the sense that it’s personal to you, and you’d need to give it out in order for people to find you. It isn’t like other social media sites where you can go look through all of someone’s friends in order to find someone.

Tumblr is another platform parents have yet to invade. It’s difficult to find friends – or be found – because like Snapchat, little to no personal information is required to sign up, making it virtually impossible for parents to find you.

So you see that evading parents online CAN be done. Even though there is no hope for Facebook, avoiding parents on other social media sites just takes a little knowledge and determination.  

Teens, do you agree? What sites are your favorites (we won’t tell!) Parents, are you scared yet? You should be! Check out our Web 101 series for more info on social sites you’ve never heard of. 



IMAGE CREDIT: SARAH