., click here to update your profile and earn points towards a Starbucks gift card

Learn more

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Parent’s Guide to the Apple Journal App (2024)

., you're logged in!
Enjoy this resource and share our programs with your school district to send these resources to your whole community
Tell Your School District About Our Program
., you're logged in!
Share this resource with a parent at .  (or visit our new sharing center)
Copy Share Link
., you're logged in!
Enjoy this demo pass. Click the button to share access with leaders in your school district (or visit our new sharing center)
Share Your Demo Pass With School District Leaders

Become a member or login to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
February 8, 2024

Unlock this lesson to learn what you can do to keep kids safe on the Apple Journal App

This Apple Journal app guide will help parents learn: 

  • What is the Journal app?
  • The top concerns with the Journal app
  • Tips for parents to keep kids safe

Learn why parents and educators should care about the Journal app

Log in or join the VIP membership today to view all SmartSocial.com resources about apps!

Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
Quotation marks

This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

StarStarStarStarStar

Sharon M.

Parent VIP Member

Quotation marks

Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

StarStarStarStarStar

Director of College Advising

Educator Webinar Attendee

Quotation marks

This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

StarStarStarStarStar

Irene C.

Educator Webinar Attendee

Parent’s Guide to the Apple Journal App (2024)

., you're logged in!
Enjoy this resource and share our programs with your school district to send these resources to your whole community
Tell Your School District About Our Program
., you're logged in!
Share this resource with a parent at .  (or visit our new sharing center)
Copy Share Link
., you're logged in!
Enjoy this demo pass. Click the button to share access with leaders in your school district (or visit our new sharing center)
Share Your Demo Pass With School District Leaders
., now is your chance to earn 10 points towards a $5 Starbucks gift card by telling us what you learned in this resource!
To earn your gift card, please be specific and write a full sentence that helps us learn what you liked about the topic. Our non-profit uses this information to improve our program.

40 characters remaining to reach minimum

Your submission has been received! You now have additional points added to your account.

If you are in a live event, please comment "I filled out the form!" in the live event chat box!

Otherwise you are free to roam around the site.
Thanks!
-Josh and The SmartSocial Team
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Journaling can be a healthy, therapeutic, and productive habit for teens and adults alike.  Apple has launched its own Journal app, a private and secure place for iPhone users to keep track of their daily thoughts, log workouts, or reflect on events or happenings in their lives.  Users can also lock down the information stored in the app with the device passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID, wherein lies the problem for parents and teens.  

In this SmartSocial.com parents guide to the Apple Journal app, parents will learn the pros and cons of the app and gain tips on how to dialogue with their teens about it.

Parent and Educator Video

Top Concerns with Journal App

  • Information such as pictures and videos can be stored in the Journal app and locked with the device passcode, FaceID, or Touch ID—making it difficult for parents to monitor their students’ digital activity
  • Users can take new pictures and videos within the app and choose for them to not show up on the camera roll
  • For students trying to hide information from their parents, the app can function similarly to a vault app—the app looks innocent but is actually hiding inappropriate content behind a passcode
  • There are no parental controls attached to the app, so students can adjust the settings on their own
Journal logo

What is the Journal app?

With Journal, users can capture and write about everyday moments and special events in their lives, and include photos, videos, audio recordings, locations, and more to create rich memories. — Apple
  • An iPhone app for users to record and store private thoughts and information securely
  • Only available on iPhone (not on Mac or iPad)
  • Automatically installed on all iOS devices with the iOS 17.2 update
  • Users can receive journaling suggestions and/or notifications based on their activities 
  • “All Journal entries are end-to-end encrypted when stored in iCloud, so that no one but the user can access them.” (Source:Apple)

What can parents & educators do?

  • Parents should have an open dialogue with their child about appropriate vs. inappropriate activities on their phone  
  • Ensure students understand they should not lock the app under a passcode or Face ID
  • Discuss and create a Social Media Agreement WITH your child to set clear screen time expectations and consequences
  • Parents can delete the app from their student’s device, but they will be able to redownload it

Additional Resources

Parents Guide to iPhone Parental Controls (and Other Apple Devices)

Parental Controls on Student Devices: What Parents & Educators Need to Know in 2024

Safeguard Your Student's Future with Our Free Printable Social Media Agreement

Is It Too Late to Establish Smartphone and Social Media Guidelines?

Conclusion

Journaling is a healthy activity for teens to participate in and the Journal app, if used appropriately, can be an easy way for students to get in the habit of recording their thoughts and reflections. Parents should talk to their students about how they are using the app and set expectations about appropriate use.  

School Districts: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.

Unlock this lesson to learn what you can do to keep kids safe on the Apple Journal App

This Apple Journal app guide will help parents learn: 

  • What is the Journal app?
  • The top concerns with the Journal app
  • Tips for parents to keep kids safe

Learn why parents and educators should care about the Journal app

Log in or join the VIP membership today to view all SmartSocial.com resources about apps!

Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
Quotation marks

This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

StarStarStarStarStar

Sharon M.

Parent VIP Member

Quotation marks

Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

StarStarStarStarStar

Director of College Advising

Educator Webinar Attendee

Quotation marks

This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

StarStarStarStarStar

Irene C.

Educator Webinar Attendee

Learn more

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Join Our Next Live Parent Q&A Events (and earn a $5 Starbucks gift card)*

Dec
10
Register

Optimize Parental Controls: Balancing Safety & Privacy for Families

Understand how to set up parental controls and monitor your students without being intrusive.

Dec
12
Register

Protecting Your Family With A Social Media Agreement

Learn how to set up a Family Media Agreement for your entire family in order to keep your family safer with technology and social media.

Dec
17
Register

AI for Student Success: Being Productive & Learning Future Skills

This virtual parent night event will explore the fascinating world of AI and the role it can have in every student's educational journey and future career paths.

Jan
14
Register

How To Shine Online With Your Social Media Accounts

Learn how students can use their social media accounts to help them Shine Online and better their future.

Jan
21
Register

How To Shine Online With Your Social Media Accounts

Learn how students can use their social media accounts to help them Shine Online and better their future.

Jan
28
Register

How To Shine Online With Your Social Media Accounts

Learn how students can use their social media accounts to help them Shine Online and better their future.

*Only for families in partner school districts or individual paid VIP members: to receive a gift card, simply attend the live event, join in the activities, and your family will be eligible to earn one gift card per year (while supplies last).

Become a Very Informed Parent (VIP) to get our social media suggestions in your email every Tuesday & Thursday.

Dotted arrow to right
Learn about our
"Very Informed Parent" 
VIP Program
Right arrow
Hello, I'm Josh, the founder of SmartSocial.com. Protect your family by taking my 1 minute quiz

This quiz will help you understand how safe your family is

Take Josh's 1 Min Quiz
Right arrow
Smart Social Logo

Schools & Districts: Partner with us to protect your community online

Our remote presentations (and website) teach over a million students each year how to shine online. We teach students how their accounts can be used to create a portfolio of positive accomplishments that impress colleges and employers.

Partner with SmartSocial.com
Right arrow
Smart Social Logo
Join Our Smart Social Podcast
each week on iTunes

With over 240 episodes, Josh Ochs interviews psychologists, therapists, counselors, teachers, and parents while showing you how to navigate social media to someday shine online.

Listen on: