App · Medium risk
Is Nintendo Switch Online safe for your child?
Age guide
6+
We advise Nintendo Switch Online from age 6 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk).
- 5-8
- Younger players can enjoy classic NES and Super NES games included with the service, but online multiplayer features should be disabled or closely supervised due to unmoderated voice chat.
- 9-12
- Children in this age range can participate in online multiplayer for games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but parents should manage voice chat settings and monitor interactions within online lobbies.
- 13-15
- Teenagers can access the full range of online multiplayer and cloud save features, but discussions about responsible online communication and avoiding sharing personal information are crucial, especially in games with open voice chat.
- 16+
- Young adults can fully utilize all aspects of Nintendo Switch Online, including the smartphone app for voice chat and game-specific services, with an understanding of online etiquette and privacy.
Nintendo Switch Online is a paid subscription service for the Nintendo Switch. It offers online multiplayer, a library of classic NES and SNES games, cloud saves, and exclusive offers.
- Age guide
- 6+
- Overall risk
- 4/10
- Violence
- 3/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 3/10
- Stranger contact
- 4/10
- Addiction risk
- 7/10
- Language
- 3/10
- Influence
- 5/10
What parents should know
Nintendo Switch Online provides access to online multiplayer, a library of classic games, and cloud saves for Nintendo Switch. The primary safety concerns revolve around unmoderated voice chat in online games and the potential for interactions with strangers. Utilizing the robust parental control features on the console and managing Nintendo Account settings are essential for a safer experience.
What to do about Nintendo Switch Online
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 Nintendo Switch Online is 6+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact Nintendo Switch Online setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about Nintendo Switch Online without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in Nintendo Switch Online that mean it is time to step in.
Nintendo Switch Online age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is Nintendo Switch Online?
Parentwise puts Nintendo Switch Online at 6+. We advise Nintendo Switch Online from age 6 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). Violence scores 3/10, language 3/10, stranger contact 4/10 and addiction risk 7/10.
Can a 10 year old use Nintendo Switch Online?
Yes, 10 is at or above the age we advise for Nintendo Switch Online (6+). Children in this age range can participate in online multiplayer for games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but parents should manage voice chat settings and monitor interactions within online lobbies.
Can a 12 year old use Nintendo Switch Online?
Yes, 12 is at or above the age we advise for Nintendo Switch Online (6+). Children in this age range can participate in online multiplayer for games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but parents should manage voice chat settings and monitor interactions within online lobbies.
Can a 13 year old use Nintendo Switch Online?
Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for Nintendo Switch Online (6+). Teenagers can access the full range of online multiplayer and cloud save features, but discussions about responsible online communication and avoiding sharing personal information are crucial, especially in games with open voice chat.
Is Nintendo Switch Online appropriate for kids?
Nintendo Switch Online provides access to online multiplayer, a library of classic games, and cloud saves for Nintendo Switch. Parentwise rates Nintendo Switch Online overall as medium risk (4/10), with stranger contact at 4/10 and addiction risk at 7/10.
Is Nintendo Switch Online family friendly?
Nintendo Switch Online sits in the middle: fine with settings changed and an occasional check-in. The primary safety concerns revolve around unmoderated voice chat in online games and the potential for interactions with strangers.
Nintendo Switch Online parents guide: what should a parent know first?
Nintendo Switch Online provides access to online multiplayer, a library of classic games, and cloud saves for Nintendo Switch. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (4/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (7/10).
Is Nintendo Switch Online safe for kids?
We advise Nintendo Switch Online from age 6 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). The primary safety concerns revolve around unmoderated voice chat in online games and the potential for interactions with strangers.
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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.