A Practical Checklist for Evaluating Decentralized Apps Before Your Child Uses Them

Decentralized apps vary enormously in their safety features, governance, and the communities they attract. Running through a short checklist before your child signs up takes about 15 minutes and saves a lot of reactive conversations later.

Before installation

• Search the app name alongside words like safety concerns or moderation issues - read what comes up
• Find out whether the app is federated, fully peer-to-peer, or blockchain-based - each has different implications for data permanence
• Check whether the platform has a published code of conduct
• Look for a minimum age requirement and how it is enforced

At account creation

• Choose a server or instance together if the platform is federated - do not let the app auto-assign one
• Read the specific server rules, not just the platform's general terms
• Set up the account using a dedicated email address that does not contain your child's real name

Ongoing checks worth scheduling

• Ask your child to walk you through their feed every few weeks
• Check whether the server they joined is still actively moderated
• Revisit privacy settings after any major app update

A platform that seemed fine at sign-up can shift significantly as its community grows or its moderation team changes.

This checklist does not guarantee a perfect experience, but it gives you a clear picture of what your child is actually entering - which is a far better starting point than guessing.