App · High risk
Is Steam safe for your child?
Age guide
13+
We advise Steam from age 13 and up. Overall risk 7/10 (high risk).
- 5-8
- Children in this age range should not use Steam due to the platform's complexity and vast library of games, many of which are not age-appropriate.
- 9-12
- For this age group, Steam's Family View feature is essential to limit access to a pre-approved selection of games and restrict online community features.
- 13-15
- Teenagers may begin to explore Steam's broader game library, but parents should monitor game ratings and discuss the risks associated with in-game purchases and direct messaging with strangers.
- 16+
- Older teens might use Steam for multiplayer games with friends and participate in community discussions, requiring ongoing conversations about digital citizenship and responsible spending on microtransactions.
Get the read for your child
Three taps, no typing. We use your answers with this entry's own scores to tell you what matters most for Steam.
How old is your child?
- What have you set up so far?
- Has anything happened yet?
Steam is a digital distribution platform by Valve Corporation for PC games. It offers a vast library of games, social networking features, and community forums.
- Age guide
- 13+
- Overall risk
- 7/10
- Violence
- 7/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 6/10
- Stranger contact
- 7/10
- Addiction risk
- 9/10
- Language
- 7/10
- Influence
- 8/10
What parents should know
Steam is a digital storefront and platform for PC games, offering a vast library from various developers. It includes social features like chat, forums, and user-generated content, along with in-game purchase options. Parents can use the built-in Family View to restrict access to games and community features, which is crucial for managing content exposure.
What to do about Steam
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 Steam is 13+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact Steam setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about Steam without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in Steam that mean it is time to step in.
Steam age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is Steam?
Parentwise puts Steam at 13+. We advise Steam from age 13 and up. Overall risk 7/10 (high risk). Violence scores 7/10, language 7/10, stranger contact 7/10 and addiction risk 9/10.
Can a 10 year old use Steam?
Not by default: we advise Steam from 13+, so at 10 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. For this age group, Steam's Family View feature is essential to limit access to a pre-approved selection of games and restrict online community features.
Can a 12 year old use Steam?
Not by default: we advise Steam from 13+, so at 12 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. For this age group, Steam's Family View feature is essential to limit access to a pre-approved selection of games and restrict online community features.
Can a 13 year old use Steam?
Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for Steam (13+). Teenagers may begin to explore Steam's broader game library, but parents should monitor game ratings and discuss the risks associated with in-game purchases and direct messaging with strangers.
Is Steam appropriate for kids?
Steam is a digital storefront and platform for PC games, offering a vast library from various developers. Parentwise rates Steam overall as high risk (7/10), with stranger contact at 7/10 and addiction risk at 9/10.
Is Steam family friendly?
Steam is one of the higher-risk titles we rate, so treat it as supervised rather than family viewing. It includes social features like chat, forums, and user-generated content, along with in-game purchase options.
Steam parents guide: what should a parent know first?
Steam is a digital storefront and platform for PC games, offering a vast library from various developers. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (7/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (9/10).
Is Steam safe for kids?
We advise Steam from age 13 and up. Overall risk 7/10 (high risk). It includes social features like chat, forums, and user-generated content, along with in-game purchase options.
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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.