By age 15, roughly 85-90% of teens are on at least three of the major social platforms. This isn't about keeping up with the Joneses—it's about understanding that social connection for this generation happens digitally. Fighting it entirely means your kid becomes the one who can't participate in group chats, doesn't know about the party, and gets left out of the casual social fabric that builds friendships.

That said, "everyone has it" doesn't mean zero boundaries. It means being strategic about which battles matter.

Why it's non-negotiable: YouTube is the encyclopedia, TV network, music service, and how-to manual of Gen Z. It's where they learn to cook, study for AP Bio, watch commentary channels, and fall down rabbit holes about niche interests.

What parents should know: YouTube at 15 looks nothing like YouTube at 8. They're not watching toy unboxings—they're watching video essays about film theory, gaming commentary, makeup tutorials, or (let's be honest) drama channels dissecting influencer beef. The algorithm is incredibly powerful and can either broaden horizons or create echo chambers.

The move: Check their watch history occasionally (not to spy, but to understand their interests). Have conversations about algorithmic recommendations and why YouTube keeps suggesting certain content. Use it as a teaching moment about how social media algorithms work.

Why they're on it: TikTok is the cultural nerve center. Memes, trends, music, humor—if it's happening online, it starts or spreads on TikTok. Not being on TikTok at 15 is like not having a TV in 1985.

What parents should know: TikTok's algorithm is scary good at serving addictive content. The app is designed for endless scrolling, and it works. Time limits are essential. Also, TikTok culture moves fast and can be pretty raw—there's mental health content, political content, and yes, thirst traps. The "For You Page" is personalized, so your kid's TikTok looks nothing like yours.

The move: Set a screen time limit through TikTok's family pairing feature (60-90 minutes is reasonable for a 15-year-old). Talk about the difference between watching and creating—posting publicly opens a whole different can of worms around digital footprint and comments.

Why it matters: Instagram is where they curate their public persona. It's less about the main feed (which many teens barely post to anymore) and more about Stories, DMs, and Reels. It's also where they follow brands, influencers, and keep tabs on acquaintances.

What parents should know: Instagram can be a highlight reel that fuels comparison and FOMO. The pressure to look good, be funny, or seem interesting is real. At the same time, it's a legitimate way to stay connected with friends and express creativity. Private accounts are standard for teens—public accounts are for influencers or kids who don't get it yet.

The move: Make sure their account is private. Talk about the psychology of social comparison and why everyone's life looks better online. Check their DMs settings—they should be set to only receive messages from people they follow.

Why they won't delete it: Snapchat is the primary messaging app for many teens. Streaks (sending snaps back and forth daily) create a built-in reason to stay active. The ephemeral nature feels lower-pressure than Instagram, and the lack of likes/comments makes it feel more authentic.

What parents should know: Snap Map shows your kid's location to their friends (it can be turned to Ghost Mode). The "disappearing messages" thing makes parents nervous, but honestly, screenshots exist, and kids know that. The bigger issue is the addictive nature of streaks—kids feel genuinely anxious about losing a 500-day streak.

The move: Make sure Snap Map is set to Ghost Mode or only visible to close friends. Talk about the illusion of privacy—nothing online truly disappears. And maybe gently mock the absurdity of streaks so they don't have a meltdown over losing one.

Why it's essential for some kids: Discord started as a gaming chat platform but has evolved into the hub for any interest-based community. If your kid is into gaming, anime, art, coding, or literally any niche hobby, they're probably on Discord servers with like-minded people.

What parents should know: Discord can be incredibly positive (finding community around shared interests) or sketchy (public servers with strangers, minimal moderation). It's also where a lot of teens hang out in voice channels while doing homework or gaming—it's the digital equivalent of being on the phone for hours.

The move: Ask which servers they're in and why. Make sure they're not in massive public servers with thousands of strangers. Discord's privacy settings should be locked down—DMs from non-friends disabled, and server invites restricted.

Why it's different: BeReal sends a notification once a day, and you have two minutes to post a photo of whatever you're doing—front and back camera simultaneously. It's supposed to be authentic, unfiltered, and anti-Instagram. Teens love it because it's low-pressure.

What parents should know: BeReal's appeal is its authenticity, but it also shares your location with friends and shows exactly what you're doing at a random time each day. Some kids stress about posting something "interesting" even though the whole point is to be boring.

The move: BeReal is one of the safer apps in the social media ecosystem, but location sharing should be reviewed. It's a good conversation starter about performative authenticity online.

Why it's on this list: Music is identity at 15. Spotify is how they discover music, share playlists, and signal who they are. It's also surprisingly social—they can see what friends are listening to, collaborate on playlists, and use music as a conversation starter.

What parents should know: Spotify has explicit content, but by 15, they've heard worse in the school hallway. The bigger thing is understanding that music taste is deeply personal and a way they explore identity. Let them have their emo phase.

The move: This one's low-stakes. Maybe share a playlist with them. It's a nice, non-invasive way to stay connected.

Threads: Instagram's text-based app. Some teens are on it, but it hasn't reached critical mass with this age group yet.

X (formerly Twitter): Most 15-year-olds aren't actively posting, but they lurk for memes and news. It's a cesspool, but they know that.

Facebook: Lol, no. Facebook is for old people and Marketplace.

Messaging Apps (iMessage, WhatsApp): iMessage is the default for iPhone users. WhatsApp is common in families with international connections. Both are fine and relatively safe for 15-year-olds.

At 15, your kid is three years from legal adulthood. The goal isn't to lock everything down—it's to teach them to navigate digital spaces wisely.

What's reasonable at this age:

What's worth pushing back on:

Your 15-year-old is going to be on these apps. The question is whether you're going to be a presence in that part of their life or pretend it doesn't exist.

The best approach? Curiosity over control. Ask what they're watching on YouTube. Let them show you a funny TikTok. Talk about why Instagram makes them feel bad sometimes. These apps aren't going away, and neither is your kid's need to connect with peers.

Set boundaries that make sense for your family—screen time limits, privacy settings, no phones at dinner—but don't treat social media like it's inherently evil. It's not. It's just the world they're growing up in, and they need you to help them navigate it, not ban them from it entirely.

And if you're feeling overwhelmed by all of this, talk to the Screenwise chatbot about your specific situation. You're not alone in this.