App · Low risk
Is FaceTime safe for your child?
Age guide
4+
We advise FaceTime from age 4 and up. Overall risk 3/10 (low risk).
- 5-8
- Younger children might use FaceTime for simple video calls with close family members, often supervised.
- 9-12
- Pre-teens may use FaceTime for video calls with friends, often in group settings, to coordinate activities or simply socialize.
- 13-15
- Teenagers in this age group use FaceTime for more frequent and independent video calls with friends, including group calls.
- 16+
- Older teens might use FaceTime for longer, more personal conversations with close friends or romantic partners.
FaceTime is a proprietary videotelephony product developed by Apple Inc. It allows users to make audio and video calls to other Apple devices over Wi-Fi or cellular data.
- Age guide
- 4+
- Overall risk
- 3/10
- Violence
- 1/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 2/10
- Stranger contact
- 3/10
- Addiction risk
- 4/10
- Language
- 2/10
- Influence
- 2/10
What parents should know
FaceTime is Apple's secure video and audio calling service, primarily used for direct communication between individuals or small groups. Parents should ensure their child only accepts calls from known contacts and understands appropriate behavior during video calls. Emphasizing privacy and open communication about any uncomfortable interactions is crucial for safe use.
What to do about FaceTime
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 FaceTime is 4+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact FaceTime setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about FaceTime without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in FaceTime that mean it is time to step in.
FaceTime age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is FaceTime?
Parentwise puts FaceTime at 4+. We advise FaceTime from age 4 and up. Overall risk 3/10 (low risk). Violence scores 1/10, language 2/10, stranger contact 3/10 and addiction risk 4/10.
Can a 10 year old use FaceTime?
Yes, 10 is at or above the age we advise for FaceTime (4+). Pre-teens may use FaceTime for video calls with friends, often in group settings, to coordinate activities or simply socialize.
Can a 12 year old use FaceTime?
Yes, 12 is at or above the age we advise for FaceTime (4+). Pre-teens may use FaceTime for video calls with friends, often in group settings, to coordinate activities or simply socialize.
Can a 13 year old use FaceTime?
Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for FaceTime (4+). Teenagers in this age group use FaceTime for more frequent and independent video calls with friends, including group calls.
Is FaceTime appropriate for kids?
FaceTime is Apple's secure video and audio calling service, primarily used for direct communication between individuals or small groups. Parentwise rates FaceTime overall as low risk (3/10), with stranger contact at 3/10 and addiction risk at 4/10.
Is FaceTime family friendly?
FaceTime is one of the lower-risk titles we rate. Parents should ensure their child only accepts calls from known contacts and understands appropriate behavior during video calls.
FaceTime parents guide: what should a parent know first?
FaceTime is Apple's secure video and audio calling service, primarily used for direct communication between individuals or small groups. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (3/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (4/10).
Is FaceTime safe for kids?
We advise FaceTime from age 4 and up. Overall risk 3/10 (low risk). Parents should ensure their child only accepts calls from known contacts and understands appropriate behavior during video calls.
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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.