Social platform · Medium risk
Is WhatsApp safe for your child?
Age guide
13+
We advise WhatsApp from age 13 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk).
- 5-8
- WhatsApp is not designed for children this young and requires users to be at least 13 years old, making it unsuitable for this age group.
- 9-12
- Children in this age range are below the minimum age requirement for WhatsApp, and its features for direct messaging and group chats could expose them to inappropriate content or interactions.
- 13-15
- Teenagers can use WhatsApp for communication with friends and family, but parents should monitor group chat participation and discuss responsible sharing of personal information.
- 16+
- Older teens often use WhatsApp for various social and organizational communications, and they should be aware of privacy settings and potential scams or misinformation spread through the platform.
WhatsApp is a widely used messaging platform that allows users to send text messages, voice messages, photos, videos, and make voice and video calls over the internet. It is popular among various age groups due to its user-friendly interface and extensive features, including group chats and end-to-end encryption for privacy. However, the platform can pose risks, especially for younger users, as it enables direct communication with anyone who has their phone number, potentially exposing them to inappropriate content and interactions.
- Age guide
- 13+
- Overall risk
- 4/10
- Violence
- 1/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 3/10
- Stranger contact
- 7/10
- Addiction risk
- 6/10
- Language
- 2/10
- Influence
- 5/10
What parents should know
WhatsApp is a popular messaging app that allows users to send texts, make calls, and share media securely through end-to-end encryption. While it's a convenient communication tool, its direct messaging and group chat features necessitate careful privacy management. Parents should ensure their children meet the age requirement and understand how to use the app responsibly to avoid unwanted contact or exposure to inappropriate content.
What to do about WhatsApp
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 WhatsApp is 13+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact WhatsApp setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about WhatsApp without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in WhatsApp that mean it is time to step in.
WhatsApp age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is WhatsApp?
Parentwise puts WhatsApp at 13+. We advise WhatsApp from age 13 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). Violence scores 1/10, language 2/10, stranger contact 7/10 and addiction risk 6/10.
Can a 10 year old use WhatsApp?
Not by default: we advise WhatsApp from 13+, so at 10 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Children in this age range are below the minimum age requirement for WhatsApp, and its features for direct messaging and group chats could expose them to inappropriate content or interactions.
Can a 12 year old use WhatsApp?
Not by default: we advise WhatsApp from 13+, so at 12 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Children in this age range are below the minimum age requirement for WhatsApp, and its features for direct messaging and group chats could expose them to inappropriate content or interactions.
Can a 13 year old use WhatsApp?
Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for WhatsApp (13+). Teenagers can use WhatsApp for communication with friends and family, but parents should monitor group chat participation and discuss responsible sharing of personal information.
Is WhatsApp appropriate for kids?
WhatsApp is a popular messaging app that allows users to send texts, make calls, and share media securely through end-to-end encryption. Parentwise rates WhatsApp overall as medium risk (4/10), with stranger contact at 7/10 and addiction risk at 6/10.
Is WhatsApp family friendly?
WhatsApp sits in the middle: fine with settings changed and an occasional check-in. While it's a convenient communication tool, its direct messaging and group chat features necessitate careful privacy management.
WhatsApp parents guide: what should a parent know first?
WhatsApp is a popular messaging app that allows users to send texts, make calls, and share media securely through end-to-end encryption. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (7/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (6/10).
Is WhatsApp safe for kids?
We advise WhatsApp from age 13 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). While it's a convenient communication tool, its direct messaging and group chat features necessitate careful privacy management.
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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.