What is Tumblr? – Working Mechanism, Safety Features, Parental Controls, Kids’s Safety, and More

Social media platforms never fail to capture the attention of young users. One of them is Tumblr, a microblogging site that offers an eclectic mix of content.

What else does the platform have to offer, how does it work, and most importantly, is it safe for children? I’ll answer all your questions in this blog. 

Whether you’re a curious parent, a potential user, or someone who needs to learn about Tumblr, read on to discover everything you need to know!

this is such a gen z question but what is tumblr. what do i do on it. what do i post. who can i friend pic.twitter.com/k7jkU09ajY

— soph 🍉 (@midnightlor) January 10, 2024

Quick Answer

Tumblr is a microblogging site on which you’ll find short blog posts that can have pictures, audio, GIFs, and infographics as well.

What is Tumblr?

Tumblr is a microblogging social media platform on which you can post short-form blogs and follow other blog pages. The posted blogs can be about memes, fan fiction, bits of advice, and more.

According to Wikipedia, the platform hosted more than 465 million blogs in 2019, with over 21 million posts daily. Being a subsidiary of Verizon, Tumblr lost its fans after 2020 and is now getting some popularity back again. It makes a profit from targeted advertisements that are based on visitors’ behavior. 

In a way, Tumblr could be termed a platform that brings people of similar interests together.

How Does Tumblr Work?

Tumblr caters to a myriad of interests, with each person using it for various reasons. To know how it works, you should know that the platform allows you to do the following:

• Creating a Blog: You can create multiple blogs under one account and be able to customize them with different themes and layouts.
• Posting Content: Tumblr allows you to share texts, photos, quotes, GIFs, audio, and videos. 
• Following and Reblogging: You can follow the users to see their content on your feed and repost their posts to share with your followers. 
• Tagging: You can use tags to categorize your blog posts so that people with similar interests can see them.
• Messaging: You can privately or publicly message other people to engage with them.
• Queuing and Scheduling Posts: You can plan your content by queuing posts or setting specific times for them to go live.
• Customization: You can customize your blog posts by adding custom HTML and themes that suit your style.

Is Tumblr Safe for Kids?

As a concerned parent, you must ensure the safety of your kids before allowing them to use any social media platform. When it comes to Tumblr, I believe it is not that safe for younger users due to the following reasons:

Public Account

First of all, you can’t have a public account on Tumblr. So, unlike other social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, you can’t make your account completely private. This allows strangers to slide into your child’s DMs pretty easily. 

Explicit Content

Tumblr is full of adult and explicit content, so it can’t be considered safe for kids. Although the platform has implemented measures to restrict explicit content, it can still be encountered. Moreover, children may inadvertently come across adult themes that make the platform unsafe. 

Hate Speech and Self-Harm 

Though Tumblr has policies against promoting self-harm and hate speech, you can still find this type of content. The platform will simply publish content containing hate speech, self-harm, or pro-anorexia until someone reports it.

The Minimum Age Limit to Use Tumblr

According to the Terms of Service of Tumblr, the platform is based in the U.S. and follows its laws and jurisdiction. So, the general age to use it is 13. However, in European countries and in the UK, the users must be at least 16 years old. Moreover, the users must be 18 or older to use Tumblr’s tipping feature.

Does Tumblr Have Parental Controls?

Now that it is clear that Tumblr is surely not safe for kids, you must be thinking that it must have parental controls. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. 

However, the platform offers a few features to help you create a safe environment for children. And, they are:

Content Filter

Tumblr comes with a few content filter options to hide all types of inappropriate content. So, enabling them will not show explicit and other mature content on your dashboard. Despite this option, some inappropriate content can still slip through. 

To filter explicit content on Tumblr:

• First of all, you need to go to Settings and scroll down until you see the option “Content you see.” 

• There, you can add explicit or inappropriate terms under Filtered Tags and Filtered Post Content. For example, you can enter “kill” and click “Add.”

  

• Then, scroll down a bit again to the option “Control how you see certain topics across Tumblr” and set the pointer to “Hide” for Mature, Drug and alcohol addiction, Violence, and sexual themes.

  

• Finally, turn on the toggle for “Hide additional potentially mature content.”

  

These settings are not foolproof, as people can find multiple ways to get around them. Hence, you should take on the responsibility of ensuring the kids’ safety on Tumblr.

Effective Tips to Ensure Kids’s Safety on Tumblr

No social media platform is completely safe for kids. They may somehow encounter explicit content, and no matter how many parental controls you set, they can find a way to bypass them.

If your kids have been using Tumblr or have shown intentions to use it, I would like to share some tips to ensure your kid’s safety.

First of all, it’s essential to have an open conversation with your kids regarding the inappropriate content they may stumble upon on Tumblr. You can explain why such content is harmful and impacts their minds. Moreover, you can advise them to come to you if they feel uncomfortable or are unsure about the content they see.

Educating your kids on reporting and blocking on Tumblr is very important. Teach them how they must block specific content that makes them uncomfortable. And, let them know how to report content that violates the platform’s policies. 

Give practical advice to your kids on how to navigate Tumblr safely. This can include – not sharing personal information, avoiding suspicious links, and being cautious whenever they interact with someone on the platform.  

Wrapping Up

Today, most social media platforms come with the required safety features, as the risk of encountering explicit content or suspicious users is always there. Tumblr is no different and comes with both: entertainment factor and risk. 

As a parent, you need to discuss inappropriate content with your kids. Moreover, you can give them tips on how to deal with uncomfortable posts and report predators.  

Gaurav Rathore