Social platform · High risk
Is Telegram safe for your child?
Age guide
16+
We advise Telegram from age 16 and up. Overall risk 7/10 (high risk).
- 5-8
- Telegram is a messaging app designed for communication and content sharing, making it entirely unsuitable for this age group due to the inherent risks of online interaction and exposure to varied content.
- 9-12
- Children in this age range should not use Telegram due to the lack of robust parental controls for content, the potential for exposure to inappropriate groups or channels, and direct messaging with strangers.
- 13-15
- Teenagers might use Telegram for group chats with friends, but parents must be vigilant about privacy settings, the types of groups they join, and the potential for encountering unmoderated public channels with mature content.
- 16+
- Older teens can use Telegram responsibly for communication, but they should be fully aware of how to manage their privacy settings, identify scams, and avoid public channels that may host harmful or inappropriate content.
Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging service known for its focus on privacy, security, and large group chat capabilities. It offers end-to-end encrypted secret chats and channels for broadcasting content to large audiences.
- Age guide
- 16+
- Overall risk
- 7/10
- Violence
- 4/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 7/10
- Stranger contact
- 8/10
- Addiction risk
- 7/10
- Language
- 6/10
- Influence
- 8/10
What parents should know
Telegram is a messaging app known for its strong encryption, large group chat capabilities, and public channels, which can host a wide range of unmoderated content. The primary risks for children and teens include exposure to inappropriate material, direct messaging from strangers, and privacy concerns related to features like 'People Nearby.' Robust privacy settings and open communication are essential for any teen using the platform.
What to do about Telegram
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 Telegram is 16+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact Telegram setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about Telegram without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in Telegram that mean it is time to step in.
Telegram age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is Telegram?
Parentwise puts Telegram at 16+. We advise Telegram from age 16 and up. Overall risk 7/10 (high risk). Violence scores 4/10, language 6/10, stranger contact 8/10 and addiction risk 7/10.
Can a 10 year old use Telegram?
Not by default: we advise Telegram from 16+, so at 10 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Children in this age range should not use Telegram due to the lack of robust parental controls for content, the potential for exposure to inappropriate groups or channels, and direct messaging with strangers.
Can a 12 year old use Telegram?
Not by default: we advise Telegram from 16+, so at 12 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Children in this age range should not use Telegram due to the lack of robust parental controls for content, the potential for exposure to inappropriate groups or channels, and direct messaging with strangers.
Can a 13 year old use Telegram?
Not by default: we advise Telegram from 16+, so at 13 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Teenagers might use Telegram for group chats with friends, but parents must be vigilant about privacy settings, the types of groups they join, and the potential for encountering unmoderated public channels with mature content.
Is Telegram appropriate for kids?
Telegram is a messaging app known for its strong encryption, large group chat capabilities, and public channels, which can host a wide range of unmoderated content. Parentwise rates Telegram overall as high risk (7/10), with stranger contact at 8/10 and addiction risk at 7/10.
Is Telegram family friendly?
Telegram is one of the higher-risk titles we rate, so treat it as supervised rather than family viewing. The primary risks for children and teens include exposure to inappropriate material, direct messaging from strangers, and privacy concerns related to features like 'People Nearby.' Robust privacy settings and open communication are essential for any teen using the platform.
Telegram parents guide: what should a parent know first?
Telegram is a messaging app known for its strong encryption, large group chat capabilities, and public channels, which can host a wide range of unmoderated content. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (8/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (7/10).
Is Telegram safe for kids?
We advise Telegram from age 16 and up. Overall risk 7/10 (high risk). The primary risks for children and teens include exposure to inappropriate material, direct messaging from strangers, and privacy concerns related to features like 'People Nearby.' Robust privacy settings and open communication are essential for any teen using the platform.
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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.