Social platform · Medium risk
Is Houseparty safe for your child?
Age guide
13+
We advise Houseparty from age 13 and up. Overall risk 5/10 (medium risk).
- 5-8
- Houseparty is not suitable for this age group due to its focus on live video chat with friends and the potential for encountering unmoderated content or strangers.
- 9-12
- Children in this age range might be drawn to the group video chat features, but the app's design for spontaneous group calls means supervision is essential to manage who they connect with and what content is shared.
- 13-15
- Teenagers may use Houseparty for casual group video calls and playing built-in games with friends, but parents should discuss the 'Facemail' feature and the risks of sharing personal information during live interactions.
- 16+
- Older teens might use Houseparty for social video interactions with their established friend groups, and while they can manage their own privacy settings, conversations about digital footprint and responsible sharing remain relevant.
Houseparty is a social networking app that allows users to engage in video chat rooms with friends and family. It focuses on casual interactions, enabling users to join or create 'rooms' for group video calls. The platform is designed for spontaneous socializing, making it popular among teenagers and young adults. However, its casual nature raises concerns about privacy and safety, particularly for younger users.
- Age guide
- 13+
- Overall risk
- 5/10
- Violence
- 1/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 5/10
- Stranger contact
- 7/10
- Addiction risk
- 6/10
- Language
- 4/10
- Influence
- 6/10
What parents should know
Houseparty was a group video chat application that allowed friends to connect and play games together. It was acquired by Epic Games and later shut down in October 2021. The application is no longer available for use or download.
What to do about Houseparty
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 Houseparty is 13+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact Houseparty setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about Houseparty without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in Houseparty that mean it is time to step in.
Houseparty age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is Houseparty?
Parentwise puts Houseparty at 13+. We advise Houseparty from age 13 and up. Overall risk 5/10 (medium risk). Violence scores 1/10, language 4/10, stranger contact 7/10 and addiction risk 6/10.
Can a 10 year old use Houseparty?
Not by default: we advise Houseparty from 13+, so at 10 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Children in this age range might be drawn to the group video chat features, but the app's design for spontaneous group calls means supervision is essential to manage who they connect with and what content is shared.
Can a 12 year old use Houseparty?
Not by default: we advise Houseparty from 13+, so at 12 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Children in this age range might be drawn to the group video chat features, but the app's design for spontaneous group calls means supervision is essential to manage who they connect with and what content is shared.
Can a 13 year old use Houseparty?
Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for Houseparty (13+). Teenagers may use Houseparty for casual group video calls and playing built-in games with friends, but parents should discuss the 'Facemail' feature and the risks of sharing personal information during live interactions.
Is Houseparty appropriate for kids?
Houseparty was a group video chat application that allowed friends to connect and play games together. Parentwise rates Houseparty overall as medium risk (5/10), with stranger contact at 7/10 and addiction risk at 6/10.
Is Houseparty family friendly?
Houseparty sits in the middle: fine with settings changed and an occasional check-in. It was acquired by Epic Games and later shut down in October 2021.
Houseparty parents guide: what should a parent know first?
Houseparty was a group video chat application that allowed friends to connect and play games together. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (7/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (6/10).
Is Houseparty safe for kids?
We advise Houseparty from age 13 and up. Overall risk 5/10 (medium risk). It was acquired by Epic Games and later shut down in October 2021.
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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.