Social platform · Medium risk
Is SLOWLY safe for your child?
Age guide
12+
We advise SLOWLY from age 12 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk).
- 5-8
- SLOWLY is not suitable for this age group as it involves written communication with strangers and requires a level of discernment about online interactions.
- 9-12
- Children in this age range might be drawn to the pen pal concept, but the open nature of meeting new people through 'Explore' or 'Auto-match' features requires active parental supervision and discussion about appropriate communication.
- 13-15
- Teenagers can use SLOWLY to connect with others globally, often exploring different cultures; however, parents should monitor their 'Topics' and 'Location' settings, as well as the content of their letters, to ensure safe interactions.
- 16+
- Older teens may use SLOWLY independently to practice language skills or engage in thoughtful conversations with international pen pals, but they should still be aware of the 'Report' and 'Block' functions for managing uncomfortable interactions.
SLOWLY is a pen pal app that connects users from around the world based on shared interests and languages. It mimics the traditional pen pal experience by introducing delays in message delivery, encouraging thoughtful communication.
- Age guide
- 12+
- Overall risk
- 4/10
- Violence
- 2/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 3/10
- Stranger contact
- 4/10
- Addiction risk
- 5/10
- Language
- 3/10
- Influence
- 4/10
What parents should know
SLOWLY offers a unique digital pen pal experience, fostering written communication and cultural exchange, but it inherently involves interaction with strangers. Parents should focus on privacy settings and open discussions about online boundaries to ensure safe and meaningful connections. The app's delayed communication style can encourage thoughtful interaction, but vigilance is still needed regarding who your child connects with and what information they share.
What to do about SLOWLY
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 SLOWLY is 12+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact SLOWLY setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about SLOWLY without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in SLOWLY that mean it is time to step in.
SLOWLY age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is SLOWLY?
Parentwise puts SLOWLY at 12+. We advise SLOWLY from age 12 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). Violence scores 2/10, language 3/10, stranger contact 4/10 and addiction risk 5/10.
Can a 10 year old use SLOWLY?
Not by default: we advise SLOWLY from 12+, so at 10 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Children in this age range might be drawn to the pen pal concept, but the open nature of meeting new people through 'Explore' or 'Auto-match' features requires active parental supervision and discussion about appropriate communication.
Can a 12 year old use SLOWLY?
Yes, 12 is at or above the age we advise for SLOWLY (12+). Children in this age range might be drawn to the pen pal concept, but the open nature of meeting new people through 'Explore' or 'Auto-match' features requires active parental supervision and discussion about appropriate communication.
Can a 13 year old use SLOWLY?
Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for SLOWLY (12+). Teenagers can use SLOWLY to connect with others globally, often exploring different cultures; however, parents should monitor their 'Topics' and 'Location' settings, as well as the content of their letters, to ensure safe interactions.
Is SLOWLY appropriate for kids?
SLOWLY offers a unique digital pen pal experience, fostering written communication and cultural exchange, but it inherently involves interaction with strangers. Parentwise rates SLOWLY overall as medium risk (4/10), with stranger contact at 4/10 and addiction risk at 5/10.
Is SLOWLY family friendly?
SLOWLY sits in the middle: fine with settings changed and an occasional check-in. Parents should focus on privacy settings and open discussions about online boundaries to ensure safe and meaningful connections.
SLOWLY parents guide: what should a parent know first?
SLOWLY offers a unique digital pen pal experience, fostering written communication and cultural exchange, but it inherently involves interaction with strangers. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (4/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (5/10).
Is SLOWLY safe for kids?
We advise SLOWLY from age 12 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). Parents should focus on privacy settings and open discussions about online boundaries to ensure safe and meaningful connections.
Parents also checked
Browse all 1,275 entries · Read our safety guides
Release and popularity data comes in part from RAWG, TVMaze (CC BY-SA) and Wikidata (CC0). Safety guidance is written by Parentwise.