Digital Safety Checklist: Privacy Settings to Turn On Before Any Coding App

Before You Download: The “3-Minute Privacy Scan”

Most coding apps for kids are built with good intentions—but the default settings aren’t always built for your family’s comfort level. Before your child signs up or starts a project, do a quick scan that catches 90% of common privacy issues.

Here’s the mindset: a coding app is often also a social platform (profiles, sharing, comments, classmates). That means privacy settings matter just as much as the lessons.

Start with these quick checks:

• Who can see my child’s profile and projects? Set it to private or friends/class only.
• Can my child message strangers? Turn messaging off or restrict it.
• Is location collected? Disable location sharing and location-based features.
• What personal info is required? Avoid real full names, phone numbers, and personal photos.
• Is there public posting by default? Change sharing defaults to “only me.”

If you only have a few minutes, focus on: profile visibility, messaging, sharing defaults, and app permissions. Those four settings reduce risk the fastest.

The Parent Checklist: Privacy Settings to Turn On Inside the App

Once the app is installed, go straight to Settings (or Parent Controls) and lock down the essentials. Different apps label things differently, but the goals are the same.

1) Make the account “kid-safe” from the start

Even safe coding apps for children can create an unnecessary digital footprint if the profile is public.

Turn on (or set to the strictest option):

• Private profile (or “Only friends/class can view”)
• Hide from search (so strangers can’t find your child by username)
• Limit follower requests (or require approval)
• Disable public comments (or allow comments from approved users only)

Practical tip: Encourage a username that’s fun but anonymous (no school name, birth year, sports team, or neighborhood). “PixelPanda7” is better than “EmmaLincoln4thGrade.”

2) Lock down sharing and publishing defaults

Coding apps often encourage kids to share projects, which can be awesome for confidence—if it’s controlled.

Look for settings like:

• Default project visibility: set to Private or Unlisted
• Download permissions: disable if the app allows others to copy/export projects
• Remix/duet/stitch features: allow only from friends/class, or turn off
• Attribution settings: avoid displaying personal details on shared projects

Parent reality check: Kids will often click “Publish” without reading. A strict default keeps mistakes from becoming public.

3) Restrict chat, messaging, and friend features

If the app has any social layer, treat it like you would a social network.

Turn on/restrict:

• Direct messages: off, or “friends only”
• Friend requests: approval required
• Group chats/servers: off unless supervised
• Comment filters: on (profanity filters, spam filters)
• Reporting/blocking: show your child where these buttons are

A simple family rule that works: “No private chats with people you don’t know in real life.” If the app is used in a classroom, “real life” can include the teacher-approved class group.

4) Minimize data collection and personalization

Some kids apps personalize content, but personalization can also mean more tracking.

Look for toggles such as:

• Personalized ads: off (best) or “limit ad tracking”
• Analytics sharing: off (if optional)
• Third-party integrations: disable anything not required
• Email marketing: opt out

If the app offers a “child account” mode, use it. If it offers a “family account” with parent oversight, even better.

Phone & Tablet Settings: App Permissions Parents Should Review (and Usually Turn Off)

Even if the app’s internal privacy settings are perfect, device permissions can quietly reopen the door. This is where many families lose control—because permissions are requested in the moment (“Allow camera access?”) and kids click “Allow” to keep going.

Use this table as your parent checklist app permissions guide. The goal isn’t to block everything—it’s to grant permissions only when a feature truly needs it.

Permission	Usually Safe Default	Allow Only If…	Why It Matters	Quick Parent Move
Camera	Off	The app requires scanning, taking a profile avatar photo, or recording a project (with supervision)	Photos/videos can reveal faces, home interiors, school logos	Set to Ask Every Time when possible
Microphone	Off	Your child is recording narration for a project	Voice can contain names, locations, and identifying info	Use Ask Every Time for younger kids
Photos/Media Library	Limited	The app needs to import a specific image for a project	Full access exposes your child’s entire photo roll	Choose Selected Photos / Limited Access
Location	Off	Rare: map-based activities you trust	Location is high-risk personal data	Set to Never and disable “Precise Location”
Contacts	Off	Almost never needed for coding apps	Uploading contacts can expose family data	If prompted, choose Don’t Allow
Bluetooth / Local Network	Off	Only if using a robot kit or hardware device	Can reveal nearby devices or enable pairing	Turn on only during the lesson
Notifications	Limited	You want reminders for class/assignments	Can drive engagement loops and distract	Disable promotional notifications
Tracking (iOS “Allow Tracking”)	Off	Almost never necessary	Enables cross-app tracking for ads	Choose Ask App Not to Track

Two practical habits:

• Re-check permissions after updates. Some apps ask again or expand access.
• Create a “permission moment.” If your child sees a permission pop-up, they pause and call you.

Accounts, Profiles, and Sharing: How to Protect Kids’ Privacy Online (Even in “Good” Apps)

This section is about the things that don’t look like “privacy settings” but absolutely are.

Use parent-controlled sign-in where possible

If a coding app allows:

• Parent email + child sub-account
• Single sign-on through a school account (teacher-managed)
• Passkeys or a password manager

…choose the option that limits what your child manages alone.

Why: many account takeovers happen because kids reuse simple passwords or share them with friends.

Make a “safe identity” for learning apps

A safe identity helps your child participate without oversharing.

Use:

• First name only or a nickname
• No last name, no school name, no team name
• No birth year in usernames
• Avatar/illustration instead of a real photo (especially for under 13)

If a project requires credits/about-me text, keep it generic: “I like making games and learning code.”

Check the platform’s community areas (not just the lessons)

Many coding products include:

• Public galleries
• Community challenges
• Comment sections
• “Featured projects” pages

Do a quick tour with your child and set expectations:

• Show them what “public” looks like inside the app
• Practice what to do if someone comments something weird
• Agree on what’s okay to share: coding ideas yes; personal stories, school events, and location details no

Red flags that mean “pause and reassess”

You don’t need to be a tech expert to spot questionable patterns.

Pause if you see:

• The app demands a phone number for a child account
• It pushes public posting as the default
• It offers private messaging with strangers and no parent controls
• It uses vague language like “we may share data with partners” without clear opt-outs
• It’s hard to find a privacy policy or contact support

If you’re unsure, treat the app like a public space and tighten every setting.

Next Steps: Set It Up Once, Then Keep It Simple

Digital safety doesn’t have to be stressful. The best approach is a one-time setup plus a lightweight routine.

Here’s a simple plan you can do today:

• Step 1: Install the app yourself first. Create the child account with the strictest privacy settings.
• Step 2: Set the defaults: private profile, private/unlisted projects, messages off (or friends-only).
• Step 3: Review device permissions using the table above. Turn off Location, Contacts, Tracking, and set Camera/Mic to Ask Every Time.
• Step 4: Do a 2-minute “sharing rehearsal.” Have your child show you how they would publish a project—and where they’d check if it’s public.
• Step 5: Schedule a monthly check-in. Open the app settings together and confirm nothing changed after updates.

If you want a quick rule that covers most situations: “Private by default, share on purpose.” That lets your child enjoy creating and learning—without turning every project into a permanent public profile.

At Intellect Council, we’re big believers that kids can build amazing things with code and learn strong digital boundaries at the same time. When parents set the guardrails early, kids get the freedom to explore safely.