Signal

What is Signal?

Signal is a privacy-focused messaging app developed by the Signal Foundation, a non-profit organisation. It offers text, voice and video calls, group chats, disappearing messages, and stories. All communication is end-to-end encrypted by default. Signal collects minimal data — only your phone number, nothing else. The app is often recommended by privacy advocates, journalists, and security professionals.

Age limit: 13 years.

Why do kids like it?

• Recommended by privacy-conscious parents and teachers. Many children are introduced to Signal by adults who value privacy.
• Encrypted by default. All communication is protected without any extra steps.
• No ads and no data collection. A cleaner experience without tracking.
• Clean, simple interface. Easy to use without distractions.
• Disappearing messages. Messages can be set to delete automatically after a chosen time period.
• Group chats for school and friends. A straightforward way to stay in touch.
• Growing awareness of digital privacy among teens. Many young people consciously choose Signal to protect their privacy.

What are the real risks?

• Disappearing messages can hide conversations. Parents have no way to see what was said after messages vanish.
• Encryption means no content moderation. Nobody — not even Signal — can read the messages. There is no content safety filtering.
• Phone number is required. The number is visible to contacts, making it an identifier.
• Group links can be shared publicly. Strangers can join groups if the link is passed around.
• False sense of total anonymity. The phone number is still an identifier, even though messages are encrypted.
• Can be used to organise harmful activities. Precisely because communication is private, it can be misused.
• No content filtering. There are no automatic filters for inappropriate content.

Settings to check

1. Registration lock: Settings → Account → Registration Lock → enable. This prevents someone else from re-registering your number.
2. Screen lock: Settings → Privacy → Screen Lock → enable to require biometrics or PIN to open the app.
3. Disable link previews: Settings → Privacy → turn off link previews for extra privacy.
4. Incognito keyboard: Settings → Privacy → enable incognito keyboard to prevent the keyboard from saving what you type.
5. Notification settings: Settings → Notifications → hide message content on the lock screen.
6. Group settings: Review who can add you to groups — Settings → Privacy → Groups.
7. Linked devices: Settings → Linked Devices → check that no unknown devices are connected.
8. Disappearing message defaults: Settings → Privacy → Default disappearing message timer → choose an appropriate time period.
9. Relay calls through Signal servers: Settings → Privacy → enable “Always Relay Calls” to hide your IP address.

How to talk about it

“I think it’s great that you care about privacy — what made you choose Signal?”

“Who do you chat with on Signal? Is it mostly friends from school?”

“Disappearing messages can be useful for privacy, but it also means there’s no safety net if something goes wrong. If you ever experience something uncomfortable, it’s important that you tell me about it.”

Last reviewed: March 2026