SafeCircle, explained for you
Your parent or guardian has set up SafeCircle on your phone. This page explains what it is, what it can and cannot see, and what you can do about it.
The short version
- Checks happen on your phone.
- Your parents do not get your messages.
- You can ask to see the alerts they get.
- An alert is a reason to talk, not proof of anything.
Warning
If you feel unsafe online
If someone is threatening you, asking you for money or pictures, or making you feel scared, you can get help now. Do not wait until you feel sure. Keep any messages, and talk to someone you trust.
What SafeCircle is
SafeCircle is an app that runs on your Android phone. It looks for signs that someone may be trying to harm you online, such as pressure, threats, or someone asking you to keep secrets. When it finds something that looks serious, it sends your parent a short alert.
The checks happen on your phone. Your messages are not sent to your parents, and they are not sent to SafeCircle either.
What it can see, and what it cannot
- 01
What it can read
It reads the text on screen in five apps only: WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, Snapchat and TikTok. It does not read other apps.
- 02
What it cannot read
It does not read your photos, your files, your contacts, your location, your microphone, or your calls. Other apps, notifications and websites are not checked.
- 03
What your parent sees
Your parent gets a short alert with a risk level, a category such as grooming or threats, a confidence score, a short note, and the name of the app. Your message text is not in the alert.
- 04
What stays with you
Your messages stay on your phone. Nobody reads them through SafeCircle, and your parent sees the alert, not the conversation.
Why parents might use it
Some parents want to know if their child is being contacted by someone who could harm them, and they cannot read every message. They might have had a worry, or they want to be ready if something goes wrong. A parent who uses SafeCircle is trying to look out for you, even if it does not feel that way.
SafeCircle is not perfect. It can flag a harmless chat, and it can miss something real. An alert is a prompt for a conversation, not proof of anything.
What to expect
- 01
You can see it
The SafeCircle Child app is on your home screen. It has a status screen that should say MONITORING ACTIVE when it is working.
- 02
Android asks first
Android asks you to switch on SafeCircle Protection in Accessibility settings. Android shows a warning before that is turned on.
- 03
Checks are spaced out
Checks run at most once every five minutes for each app, while that app is open on screen.
- 04
Alerts come to them
Your parent may get an alert. They are meant to talk with you about it, not to punish you on the spot.
How to talk to your parents about it
It can help to start with a question instead of an argument. You could ask what they are worried about, or what they have seen in the alerts so far.
- Ask your parent to show you the alerts they get, and what each one means.
- Tell them what you think is fair, such as which apps you use and what you are comfortable with.
- Agree together on what should happen if an alert is about something real, and what happens if it is wrong.
- Ask them to revisit the setup with you as you get older. You can change things together.
Your privacy
You should be able to know what is set up on your phone. You can ask your parent what SafeCircle is set to do, and what they can and cannot see. If you have a question about your data, you can write to support@safecircle.tech.
Your rights can depend on where you live. If you are not sure, ask an adult you trust, or a service listed on our help page.
If you feel that something about the setup is wrong, tell your parent first. It is easier to change a setting together than to deal with a problem alone.
Note
If something happened to you, it is not your fault
People who harm young people are responsible for what they do, not the young person who was targeted. Whatever happened, you can tell someone, and you do not have to sort it out alone.
If your child is in dangerGet help now