Social platform · Medium risk
Is Signal safe for your child?
Age guide
Teen 13+
We advise Signal from age 13 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk).
- 5-8
- Signal is not designed for this age group, as it is a communication tool requiring digital literacy and understanding of privacy concepts.
- 9-12
- Children in this age range might use Signal for secure family communication, but parents should manage contacts and monitor interactions, especially regarding group chats.
- 13-15
- Teenagers can use Signal for private messaging with friends, benefiting from its strong encryption for individual and group chats, but should be aware of sharing personal information.
- 16+
- Young adults can fully utilize Signal's privacy features, including secure calls and messages, for all their communications, understanding the implications of its end-to-end encryption.
Signal is a messaging application that prioritizes privacy and security, allowing users to send encrypted messages, voice, and video calls. Its focus on anonymity enables users to communicate without revealing their identities, which can be appealing for privacy-conscious individuals. However, the app's features also mean that it can be misused for harmful purposes, such as cyberbullying or facilitating illegal activities, making it essential for parents to monitor their child's usage.
- Age guide
- Teen 13+
- Overall risk
- 4/10
- Violence
- 2/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 3/10
- Stranger contact
- 7/10
- Addiction risk
- 5/10
- Language
- 2/10
- Influence
- 4/10
What parents should know
Signal is a secure messaging app known for its strong encryption and privacy features, making it a good choice for private communication. Parents should focus on teaching their children about responsible sharing and managing contacts, even within a secure environment. Its robust privacy settings can be configured to enhance safety for various age groups.
What to do about Signal
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 Signal is Teen 13+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact Signal setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about Signal without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in Signal that mean it is time to step in.
Signal age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is Signal?
Parentwise puts Signal at Teen 13+. We advise Signal from age 13 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). Violence scores 2/10, language 2/10, stranger contact 7/10 and addiction risk 5/10.
Can a 10 year old use Signal?
Not by default: we advise Signal from 13+, so at 10 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Children in this age range might use Signal for secure family communication, but parents should manage contacts and monitor interactions, especially regarding group chats.
Can a 12 year old use Signal?
Not by default: we advise Signal from 13+, so at 12 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Children in this age range might use Signal for secure family communication, but parents should manage contacts and monitor interactions, especially regarding group chats.
Can a 13 year old use Signal?
Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for Signal (13+). Teenagers can use Signal for private messaging with friends, benefiting from its strong encryption for individual and group chats, but should be aware of sharing personal information.
Is Signal appropriate for kids?
Signal is a secure messaging app known for its strong encryption and privacy features, making it a good choice for private communication. Parentwise rates Signal overall as medium risk (4/10), with stranger contact at 7/10 and addiction risk at 5/10.
Is Signal family friendly?
Signal sits in the middle: fine with settings changed and an occasional check-in. Parents should focus on teaching their children about responsible sharing and managing contacts, even within a secure environment.
Signal parents guide: what should a parent know first?
Signal is a secure messaging app known for its strong encryption and privacy features, making it a good choice for private communication. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (7/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (5/10).
Is Signal safe for kids?
We advise Signal from age 13 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). Parents should focus on teaching their children about responsible sharing and managing contacts, even within a secure environment.
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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.