App · Medium risk
Is Substack safe for your child?
Age guide
13+
We advise Substack from age 13 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk).
- 13-15
- Teenagers in this age group might start exploring Substack for niche interests, following specific writers or creators, and engaging with their content through comments, which are public and tied to their profile.
- 16+
- Older teens may use Substack to follow in-depth analysis on complex topics, potentially encountering paywalled content, or even considering starting their own publication to share their writing or creative work.
Substack is an online platform that allows writers to publish newsletters and podcasts directly to their subscribers. It operates on a subscription model, enabling creators to monetize their content.
- Age guide
- 13+
- Overall risk
- 4/10
- Violence
- 3/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 5/10
- Stranger contact
- 3/10
- Addiction risk
- 6/10
- Language
- 6/10
- Influence
- 7/10
What parents should know
Substack is a platform where independent writers publish newsletters, which can range from personal essays to in-depth journalism. While it offers diverse content, parents should be aware of the potential for unmoderated comments and the lack of universal content moderation across all publications. Discussing subscription choices and digital literacy with your child is key to navigating this platform safely.
What to do about Substack
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 Substack is 13+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact Substack setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about Substack without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in Substack that mean it is time to step in.
Substack age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is Substack?
Parentwise puts Substack at 13+. We advise Substack from age 13 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). Violence scores 3/10, language 6/10, stranger contact 3/10 and addiction risk 6/10.
Can a 10 year old use Substack?
Not by default: we advise Substack from 13+, so at 10 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first.
Can a 12 year old use Substack?
Not by default: we advise Substack from 13+, so at 12 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first.
Can a 13 year old use Substack?
Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for Substack (13+). Teenagers in this age group might start exploring Substack for niche interests, following specific writers or creators, and engaging with their content through comments, which are public and tied to their profile.
Is Substack appropriate for kids?
Substack is a platform where independent writers publish newsletters, which can range from personal essays to in-depth journalism. Parentwise rates Substack overall as medium risk (4/10), with stranger contact at 3/10 and addiction risk at 6/10.
Is Substack family friendly?
Substack sits in the middle: fine with settings changed and an occasional check-in. While it offers diverse content, parents should be aware of the potential for unmoderated comments and the lack of universal content moderation across all publications.
Substack parents guide: what should a parent know first?
Substack is a platform where independent writers publish newsletters, which can range from personal essays to in-depth journalism. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (3/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (6/10).
Is Substack safe for kids?
We advise Substack from age 13 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). While it offers diverse content, parents should be aware of the potential for unmoderated comments and the lack of universal content moderation across all publications.
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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.