February 12, 2026
A secondary, locked social media profile reserved for a person’s closest circle of friends.

Often referred to as a "Finsta" (fake Instagram) or a "Priv," these accounts are the digital equivalent of a diary that only your best friends can read. While their main account is a polished, "perfect" version of their life, the private or spam account is where the "real" content goes: blurry photos, messy rooms, vents about a bad day, or silly inside jokes. For parents, it is helpful to know that these accounts aren't necessarily for hiding "bad" things, but rather for escaping the immense pressure of looking perfect on the public internet. It is their safe space for vulnerability.
We've compiled this dictionary of common teen slang to help parents communicate with their kids. SafetyMode is the world's most advanced parental safety app for phones, making any Android phone safe for kids. You can find out more and download the app just here.





“I felt that the safety features were really suitable for me to be able to support my child whilst using the phone. It was good that I was able to manage these.”
Jane – Mum of 11 year old
“He couldn't access restricted material and it wasn't even coming up for him due to the settings. It gave me a peace of mind as I can't police him all the time with the phone.”
Tom – Dad of 13 year old