Online safety & ToucanTech: Safeguarding children in private networks

As countries around the world revisit and strengthen Online Safety Acts, there is growing focus on children (commonly defined as those under 16, though this varies by region) who are gaining earlier access to devices, the internet, and social platforms.

While ToucanTech is not a traditional social media site, it’s important that administrators understand the controls available to protect — or, where required, block — underage users within their private community networks.

Key differences between ToucanTech and social media

ToucanTech operates very differently from open social networks, with privacy and control built into its core design:

✅ Private, manually moderated platform – Administrators control access and moderate all members.

✅ Manual approval required – No automated sign-ups; every new user must be verified and approved before joining.

✅ One authentic record per person – Parents cannot register on behalf of children. Each account is tied to one verified individual.

✅ Controlled access – Admins can apply age restrictions, consent rules, or access limitations as needed.

✅ No targeted advertising or ad-tracking – ToucanTech platforms are ad-free, and user data cannot be used for commercial purposes.

✅ Local data storage – All data is stored in the region chosen by the organisation and is not transferred elsewhere.

✅ No content display algorithms – Content visibility is controlled by the organisation’s rules, not by engagement-driven algorithms.

Tools for safeguarding younger members

ToucanTech provides flexible and transparent tools that help administrators manage age-appropriate participation within their networks.

1. Manual moderation of membership

Manual moderation ensures that only appropriate users gain access to your community.

🔹 Block under-16 registrations outright – ToucanTech automatically flags any record where the date of birth indicates under 18.

🔹 Use flexi-groups to enable access once members reach the required age threshold (e.g. 16 or 18).

🔹 Easily identify underage members with DOB, age, and “Class of” data displayed on admin records.

2. Consent-based & restricted access

Admins can apply layered consent settings and limit interactions for younger members.

🔹 Capture parental or member-specific consent before approval.

🔹 Assign under-16 members to “muted” profiles – restricting messaging, commenting, posting, and connection requests.

🔹 Auto-hide underage profiles from search results or feeds using the “low profile” function.

🔹 Limit visibility of sensitive content (e.g. photos of minors) to logged-in members or specific sub-groups such as parents.

🔹 Provide younger members (and parents) with privacy controls, including the ability to hide profiles from Google indexing or share with “my connections only.”

3. Moderation & monitoring

Continuous moderation ensures a safe and respectful environment for all users.

🔹 Admins can review internal messages and block or mute users of concern.

🔹 All news and resource posts require admin approval before being published.

🔹 Admins can monitor and remove inappropriate posts or comments from community feeds.

ToucanTech is not an open social media platform — it is a locked-down, private community with multiple layers of age, consent, and moderation controls. By configuring these options, administrators can stay aligned with evolving online safety standards and ensure their networks remain safe for all members.

Want to learn more about ToucanTech’s community management and safety tools? Schedule a demo with one of our team and explore how you can protect and empower your members today.