For parents
What your teen is signing up for.
16+ only
A required checkbox at sign-up, plus Apple's age range signal on iPhone where available. Accounts of anyone younger are deleted with their data.
Friends only
No public profiles, no search, no direct messages. Friends see a post only for the current shutter. Friends of friends may see a username as a suggestion (no photos), and teens can turn that off.
Minimal data
Email, username, optional school and team. No birthdate, no contacts, no location. Photo location data is stripped on the phone.
No tracking ads
No ad pixels or data brokers. Local sponsors appear as labeled lines on school pages and never receive user data.
Screened and reportable
Photos are screened before friends see them. Report and block are on every post and profile. Reports are reviewed within 24 hours.
Sleep-friendly
Shutters can come at any hour, so notifications never break through Focus or Do Not Disturb. Late posts count, so nobody needs to wake up.
Free, no purchases
Free, with no in-app purchases at all. It's paid for by clearly labeled ads from local businesses, never targeted with your teen's data. No streak restores, no loot boxes.
Image removal
Anyone can ask us to remove an intimate image, with or without an account, and we act within 48 hours.
Parent questions
What age is Shutter for?
16 and older. Sign-up requires confirming this with a checkbox, and on iPhone we also check Apple's age range signal where it's available. We do not collect birthdates.
Who can see my teen's photos?
Only accepted friends, only for the current shutter, and only after those friends have posted. There is no public profile, no stranger discovery and no messaging. Friends of friends never see photos.
Can strangers find my teen?
There is no search. People who share at least 2 friends with your teen may see their username as a suggestion (no photos), and your teen can turn that off in Settings. Every friend request needs their approval.
What data do you collect?
An email address for sign-in, a username, an optional school and team, and the photos your teen posts. No birthdate, no phone contacts, no location. Location and other photo metadata are removed before upload.
Are there ads?
No tracking ads, ever. Local businesses can sponsor a school's scoreboard page with a clearly labeled line. Sponsors never get any user data and nobody is targeted.
What does it cost?
Nothing. Shutter is free and has no in-app purchases. It's paid for by clearly labeled posts from local businesses, which never use your data to target you.
Shutters can happen at night?
Yes, any hour. Shutter notifications are normal priority, so Focus and Do Not Disturb silence them. We show every new user a note suggesting they use Focus to sleep. Late posts count, so there's no reason to wake up.
How do you keep it safe?
Every photo is screened before friends see it. Every post and profile has report and block buttons. We review reports within 24 hours. Anyone, with or without an account, can ask us to remove an intimate image, and we act within 48 hours.
How do I get my teen's account removed?
Your teen can delete their account in Settings, which deletes their photos from storage. You can also email our safety address and we'll help.
A concern about a specific account or photo? Email masonngo70@gmail.com or use the image removal form. Read the full privacy policy.