Social platform · Medium risk
Is Facebook Messenger safe for your child?
Age guide
13+
We advise Facebook Messenger from age 13 and up. Overall risk 6/10 (medium risk).
- 13-15
- Teenagers in this age group may use Messenger for group chats with friends, sharing memes, and coordinating social activities.
- 16+
- Older teens might use Messenger for direct communication with a wider network, including school groups, clubs, or even early professional networking.
Facebook Messenger is a messaging platform that allows users to communicate via text, voice, and video calls. It is integrated with Facebook, enabling users to connect with their Facebook friends and contacts. The app includes features such as group chats, stickers, and the ability to send photos and videos, making it a popular choice for social interaction among users of all ages.
- Age guide
- 13+
- Overall risk
- 6/10
- Violence
- 1/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 6/10
- Stranger contact
- 7/10
- Addiction risk
- 8/10
- Language
- 4/10
- Influence
- 5/10
What parents should know
Facebook Messenger is a widely used communication app that facilitates text, voice, and video calls, along with group chats and media sharing. Parents should focus on privacy settings to control who can contact their child and regularly discuss online safety. Monitoring message requests and fostering open communication about uncomfortable interactions are key strategies for safe use.
What to do about Facebook Messenger
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 Messenger is 13+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact Facebook Messenger setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about Facebook Messenger without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in Facebook Messenger that mean it is time to step in.
Facebook Messenger age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is Facebook Messenger?
Parentwise puts Facebook Messenger at 13+. We advise Facebook Messenger from age 13 and up. Overall risk 6/10 (medium risk). Violence scores 1/10, language 4/10, stranger contact 7/10 and addiction risk 8/10.
Can a 10 year old use Facebook Messenger?
Not by default: we advise Facebook Messenger from 13+, so at 10 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first.
Can a 12 year old use Facebook Messenger?
Not by default: we advise Facebook Messenger from 13+, so at 12 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first.
Can a 13 year old use Facebook Messenger?
Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for Facebook Messenger (13+). Teenagers in this age group may use Messenger for group chats with friends, sharing memes, and coordinating social activities.
Is Facebook Messenger appropriate for kids?
Facebook Messenger is a widely used communication app that facilitates text, voice, and video calls, along with group chats and media sharing. Parentwise rates Facebook Messenger overall as medium risk (6/10), with stranger contact at 7/10 and addiction risk at 8/10.
Is Facebook Messenger family friendly?
Facebook Messenger sits in the middle: fine with settings changed and an occasional check-in. Parents should focus on privacy settings to control who can contact their child and regularly discuss online safety.
Facebook Messenger parents guide: what should a parent know first?
Facebook Messenger is a widely used communication app that facilitates text, voice, and video calls, along with group chats and media sharing. 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 Messenger safe for kids?
We advise Facebook Messenger from age 13 and up. Overall risk 6/10 (medium risk). Parents should focus on privacy settings to control who can contact their child and regularly discuss online safety.
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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.