Keeping Teens Safe in the Mirror Journaling App

How we’ve created a secure space for teens to share their thoughts

We’ve worked hard to find the right balance: offering help when needed while respecting teens’ privacy and independence. No system is perfect, but we take this responsibility seriously.

Teens face big emotions and challenges as they grow. Journaling can help them process their feelings, reflect on their experiences, and better understand themselves. But sometimes those thoughts can reveal signs of distress, like sadness or self-harm. We believe it’s our job to:

• Support Teens’ Mental Health: If a teen is struggling, we want to offer a path to helpful resources.
• Protect Their Privacy: Teens need to feel safe sharing their thoughts without fear of being judged or observed.
• Build Trust: While teens value privacy, they also welcome help when it’s offered in a respectful, non-intrusive way.
• Enable Autonomy: Teens are empowered to reach out to the support that fits their needs best, when they need it most.

Mirror is not a replacement for professional help. Rather, it’s a journaling platform with a safety net that offers support if it’s needed — all while keeping teens in control of their journaling experience.

Available on the App Store and Google Play Store.

When teens write an entry, Mirror’s system checks for patterns that may indicate thoughts of self-harm. It uses AI that is trained to recognize common signals without overstepping boundaries.

• No Concern: The entry reflects typical thoughts and feelings, both positive and negative.
• Low Risk: The entry shows some signals of distress without immediate intent to act on those feelings, so Mirror might gently suggest helpful resources.
• High Risk: If the entry includes stronger signals of possible self-harm or suicidal thoughts, summaries are blocked and a safety card is shown with links to support resources.

Throughout this process, privacy comes first. Mirror works in the background without drawing attention, and no human sees the entries.

We know Mirror is a space where teens share private thoughts, and we honor those boundaries. If a teen is struggling, we want to be sure we’re offering the right kind of support — without being intrusive.

• Prevention, Not Diagnosis: Mirror is not a replacement for professional help. It gently points teens toward resources if needed.
• Tested for Balance: We’ve tested our system carefully to ensure it identifies risks accurately while keeping the experience private and supportive.
• Built With Care: Mental health experts, researchers, and teens helped us design a tool that feels respectful and safe.

At Mirror, we’ve thought deeply about how to create a platform that protects teens while respecting their privacy. We know we can’t prevent every crisis, but we are committed to building a thoughtful tool that offers help when it might be needed.

Because every teen deserves a safe space to share their feelings and find support.