iMessage Safety Guide
Safety considerations for Apple's iMessage, including group chats, photo sharing, and parental oversight.
Official age
0+
We recommend
10+
Developer
Apple
Risks
3
Overview
iMessage is Apple's built-in messaging service. Because it comes pre-installed on every Apple device, many parents don't think of it as an app that needs safety attention. However, it supports group chats, photo/video sharing, and contact with anyone who has the child's phone number.
How children use it
Children use iMessage for daily texting with friends and family, sharing photos and videos, sending stickers and Memoji, and joining group chats that can include classmates, teammates, or extended family. Many treat group chats as the social hub of their friendship group, joining and leaving freely. Older children use iMessage to share homework notes, plan meet-ups, and forward content from other apps. Because it is the default green-bubble-vs-blue-bubble divider in UK schools, some children also feel social pressure to be part of every active chat, even when conversations become unkind or move into the early hours of the morning.
Main risks
Recommended privacy settings
Filter Unknown Senders
Location: Settings > Messages > Filter Unknown Senders
Set to: On
Separates messages from people not in your contacts into a separate list.
Share Name and Photo
Location: Settings > Messages > Share Name and Photo
Set to: Contacts Only
Controls who can see your child's name and profile photo.
Communication Safety
Location: Settings > Screen Time > Communication Safety
Set to: On
Warns children before viewing or sending sensitive photos in Messages.
Parent actions
Enable Communication Safety in Screen Time
Time: 2 minutes
Review group chat memberships regularly
Time: 5 minutes
Discuss photo sharing risks
Time: 10 minutes
Related app guides
If you need to report this
In immediate danger: call 999. For non-emergency police matters, call 101.
Concerned about a child but it's not an emergency? NSPCC helpline 0808 800 5000. Childline for young people 0800 1111.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
Last reviewed: 2026-06-14