Social platform · Medium risk
Is Facebook safe for your child?
Age guide
13+
We advise Facebook from age 13 and up. Overall risk 6/10 (medium risk).
- 5-8
- Facebook's minimum age requirement is 13, so children in this age group should not have an account.
- 9-12
- Facebook is designed for users 13 and older, and children under this age should not create accounts.
- 13-15
- Teenagers might use Facebook to connect with family and friends, but they should be guided on privacy settings for posts, photos, and personal information.
- 16+
- Older teens may use Facebook for social networking, event planning, or connecting with interest-based communities.
Facebook is a widely-used social media platform that allows users to connect with friends, share content, and join communities. It features various functions such as messaging, video sharing, and event planning, making it a versatile tool for communication. However, its open nature can expose users, especially younger individuals, to risks like cyberbullying, privacy violations, and inappropriate content. Understanding these aspects is crucial for parents to ensure safe usage.
- Age guide
- 13+
- Overall risk
- 6/10
- Violence
- 2/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 6/10
- Stranger contact
- 7/10
- Addiction risk
- 8/10
- Language
- 5/10
- Influence
- 6/10
What parents should know
Facebook is a social media platform with a minimum age requirement of 13. It allows users to connect with friends and family, share updates, and join groups. Parents should focus on robust privacy settings, educating children about online safety, and discussing the implications of sharing personal information. Regular reviews of friend lists and content interactions are important for older teens.
What to do about Facebook
Free with a Parentwise account. The age-by-age verdict needs your child's age, which is why it lives behind the account.
- The age-by-age verdict
What we advise for under 8, 8-12 and 13+ - our age guide for Facebook is 13+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact Facebook setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about Facebook without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in Facebook that mean it is time to step in.
Facebook age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is Facebook?
Parentwise puts Facebook at 13+. We advise Facebook from age 13 and up. Overall risk 6/10 (medium risk). Violence scores 2/10, language 5/10, stranger contact 7/10 and addiction risk 8/10.
Can a 10 year old use Facebook?
Not by default: we advise Facebook from 13+, so at 10 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Facebook is designed for users 13 and older, and children under this age should not create accounts.
Can a 12 year old use Facebook?
Not by default: we advise Facebook from 13+, so at 12 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Facebook is designed for users 13 and older, and children under this age should not create accounts.
Can a 13 year old use Facebook?
Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for Facebook (13+). Teenagers might use Facebook to connect with family and friends, but they should be guided on privacy settings for posts, photos, and personal information.
Is Facebook appropriate for kids?
Facebook is a social media platform with a minimum age requirement of 13. Parentwise rates Facebook overall as medium risk (6/10), with stranger contact at 7/10 and addiction risk at 8/10.
Is Facebook family friendly?
Facebook sits in the middle: fine with settings changed and an occasional check-in. It allows users to connect with friends and family, share updates, and join groups.
Facebook parents guide: what should a parent know first?
Facebook is a social media platform with a minimum age requirement of 13. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (7/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (8/10).
Is Facebook safe for kids?
We advise Facebook from age 13 and up. Overall risk 6/10 (medium risk). It allows users to connect with friends and family, share updates, and join groups.
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Release and popularity data comes in part from RAWG, TVMaze (CC BY-SA) and Wikidata (CC0). Safety guidance is written by Parentwise.