Social platform · Medium risk

Is Marco Polo safe for your child?

Age guide

6-8 years

We advise Marco Polo from age 6 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk).

5-8
Younger children can enjoy sending short video messages to approved family members, focusing on simple conversations and sharing daily activities.
9-12
At this age, children might use Marco Polo for group chats with school friends, sharing updates and quick reactions through video without the pressure of live interaction.
13-15
Teenagers may use Marco Polo for more extended video conversations with friends, appreciating the asynchronous nature that allows for thoughtful responses without immediate pressure.
16+
Older teens might integrate Marco Polo into their communication alongside other platforms, using it for casual, non-urgent video updates with close friends or family, especially those in different time zones.

Marco Polo is a video messaging app that allows users to send video messages to friends and family, enabling asynchronous communication. It is designed to keep users connected through video chats, which can be recorded and shared at their convenience. The app is particularly popular among families and friends who want to maintain relationships despite geographical distances.

Age guide
6-8 years
Overall risk
4/10
Violence
1/10
Toxic behaviour
2/10
Stranger contact
5/10
Addiction risk
6/10
Language
1/10
Influence
4/10

What parents should know

Marco Polo is a video messaging app that allows users to send asynchronous video messages, fostering communication without the pressure of live calls. Parents should actively manage contact lists and privacy settings to ensure children only communicate with known individuals. The app's 'no pressure' communication style can be beneficial for maintaining connections with close friends and family.

What to do about Marco Polo

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 Marco Polo is 6-8 years, and the answer changes with your child's age.
  • The one setting to change tonight
    The exact Marco Polo setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it.
  • What to say
    Word-for-word openers for talking about Marco Polo without a row.
  • Red flags to watch for
    The signals in Marco Polo that mean it is time to step in.
See what to change tonight

Marco Polo age rating and parents guide: common questions

What age rating is Marco Polo?

Parentwise puts Marco Polo at 6-8 years. We advise Marco Polo from age 6 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). Violence scores 1/10, language 1/10, stranger contact 5/10 and addiction risk 6/10.

Can a 10 year old use Marco Polo?

Yes, 10 is at or above the age we advise for Marco Polo (6+). At this age, children might use Marco Polo for group chats with school friends, sharing updates and quick reactions through video without the pressure of live interaction.

Can a 12 year old use Marco Polo?

Yes, 12 is at or above the age we advise for Marco Polo (6+). At this age, children might use Marco Polo for group chats with school friends, sharing updates and quick reactions through video without the pressure of live interaction.

Can a 13 year old use Marco Polo?

Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for Marco Polo (6+). Teenagers may use Marco Polo for more extended video conversations with friends, appreciating the asynchronous nature that allows for thoughtful responses without immediate pressure.

Is Marco Polo appropriate for kids?

Marco Polo is a video messaging app that allows users to send asynchronous video messages, fostering communication without the pressure of live calls. Parentwise rates Marco Polo overall as medium risk (4/10), with stranger contact at 5/10 and addiction risk at 6/10.

Is Marco Polo family friendly?

Marco Polo sits in the middle: fine with settings changed and an occasional check-in. Parents should actively manage contact lists and privacy settings to ensure children only communicate with known individuals.

Marco Polo parents guide: what should a parent know first?

Marco Polo is a video messaging app that allows users to send asynchronous video messages, fostering communication without the pressure of live calls. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (5/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (6/10).

Is Marco Polo safe for kids?

We advise Marco Polo from age 6 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). Parents should actively manage contact lists and privacy settings to ensure children only communicate with known individuals.

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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.