What is Tumblr? What parents need to know
Tumblr lets users create blogs and share them with followers and friends across a number of social platforms. Many teens use it to find communities with similar interests and experiences.
In this guide
What is Tumblr?
Tumblr is a short-form microblogging social media platform founded in 2007. Millions of people use it to share content such as fan fiction, art, memes, advice and more. It’s particularly popular among under-25s and young people in the LGBTQ+ community.
A 2020 gender census on Tumblr found a significant number of users (66.4%) identifying as non-binary.
The platform previously received criticism for pornographic content. As such, the platform banned images and videos which depicted sex acts, genitalia and certain types of nudity.
How it works
Tumblr serves various purposes and each user may use it in a different way. When using the platform, users can:
- Create a blog and post videos, photographs and links to other websites;
- Share content with friends and followers;
- Subscribe to follow blogs on the platform which show up on their Dashboard and reply or like the individual post (just like Facebook);
- Post blog entries just on the platform or also on other social media sites like Facebook, X and Instagram.
What is the minimum age for Tumblr?
According to Tumblr’s Terms of Service, the platform’s general age minimum is 13. However, users in the European Union and United Kingdom must be at least 16 years old. Additionally, if users wish to use Tumblr’s tipping feature, they must be 18 or older.
Why is Tumblr popular among young people?
Tumblr offers young people a place to discover and explore new interests or topics, especially those which may be quite niche. It also combines blogging and social media to give young people a way to get real-time feedback on what they post. In this way, Tumblr promotes a community around common interests.
Additionally, Tumblr has a very active LGBT+ community. It offers users an opportunity to explore their identity and learn about the community in a safe space.
Is Tumblr safe?
Young people under 16 in the UK should not use the platform. While Tumblr’s community guidelines warn against adult content, violence, hate speech and more, users could still come across these things. If this happens, users should report the content right away.
Tumblr has safety features similar to other social media platforms. They include:
- filtering tags
- filtering post content
- hiding mature content
- hiding topics such as addiction, violence and sexual themes
- options to keep accounts private or hidden
Most of these features are automatically hidden on registration.
How can parents help teens stay safe?
If your teen uses Tumblr, make them aware of the safety features along with what ‘inappropriate content‘ might be. Some children might think inappropriate content is okay for them, so it’s important to clarify what is right for their age.
Additional help
Explore the resources available to help deal with inappropriate content and get support.
Similar to reporting inappropriate content, encourage your child to block content or other users where necessary. If someone shares troubling content or makes your child feel uncomfortable, empower them to use the blocking feature. The other user won’t know if they do this.
Additional help
If your child needs someone to talk to about how they’re feeling, they can use resources like Childline, The Mix and Meic (Wales).
It is easy to see inappropriate content, block the user and scroll on by. However, teaching your child to take action by reporting can create positive habits for their safety. Encourage them to report any content that makes them uncomfortable.
Additional help
Take an interest in your child’s use of the social media platform. Follow each other, discuss the different communities you’re a part of, chat about the posts you’ve both seen or reblogged. Not only will your teen see you taking an active interest in their lives, but you can catch any troubling trends early.
Additional help
Find tips on starting conversations about children’s digital lives.