Social platform · High risk

Is X (Twitter) safe for your child?

Age guide

13+

We advise X (Twitter) from age 13 and up. Overall risk 8/10 (high risk).

5-8
X is not designed for this age group and contains unmoderated user-generated content that is inappropriate for young children.
9-12
X is not suitable for this age group, as it is a public platform with real-time news, opinions, and interactions that can be overwhelming and expose them to mature topics.
13-15
Teens in this age group might use X to follow interests, news, or public figures, but they can encounter misinformation, cyberbullying, and explicit content through trending topics or replies.
16+
Older teens may use X for news, social commentary, or connecting with communities, but they should be aware of the potential for echo chambers, harassment, and the spread of unverified information.

X, formerly Twitter, is a microblogging and social networking service where users post and interact with messages known as 'posts' or 'tweets'. It allows for rapid dissemination of information, news, and opinions, often in real-time.

Age guide
13+
Overall risk
8/10
Violence
7/10
Toxic behaviour
9/10
Stranger contact
7/10
Addiction risk
8/10
Language
8/10
Influence
9/10

What parents should know

X, formerly Twitter, is a real-time social media platform where users post short messages, images, and videos. It is primarily text-based and allows users to follow accounts, engage in public conversations, and consume news. The platform has minimal content moderation, meaning users can encounter a wide range of content, including misinformation, hate speech, and explicit material.

What to do about X (Twitter)

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 X (Twitter) is 13+, and the answer changes with your child's age.
  • The one setting to change tonight
    The exact X (Twitter) setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it.
  • What to say
    Word-for-word openers for talking about X (Twitter) without a row.
  • Red flags to watch for
    The signals in X (Twitter) that mean it is time to step in.
See what to change tonight

X (Twitter) age rating and parents guide: common questions

What age rating is X (Twitter)?

Parentwise puts X (Twitter) at 13+. We advise X (Twitter) from age 13 and up. Overall risk 8/10 (high risk). Violence scores 7/10, language 8/10, stranger contact 7/10 and addiction risk 8/10.

Can a 10 year old use X (Twitter)?

Not by default: we advise X (Twitter) from 13+, so at 10 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. X is not suitable for this age group, as it is a public platform with real-time news, opinions, and interactions that can be overwhelming and expose them to mature topics.

Can a 12 year old use X (Twitter)?

Not by default: we advise X (Twitter) from 13+, so at 12 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. X is not suitable for this age group, as it is a public platform with real-time news, opinions, and interactions that can be overwhelming and expose them to mature topics.

Can a 13 year old use X (Twitter)?

Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for X (Twitter) (13+). Teens in this age group might use X to follow interests, news, or public figures, but they can encounter misinformation, cyberbullying, and explicit content through trending topics or replies.

Is X (Twitter) appropriate for kids?

X, formerly Twitter, is a real-time social media platform where users post short messages, images, and videos. Parentwise rates X (Twitter) overall as high risk (8/10), with stranger contact at 7/10 and addiction risk at 8/10.

Is X (Twitter) family friendly?

X (Twitter) is one of the higher-risk titles we rate, so treat it as supervised rather than family viewing. It is primarily text-based and allows users to follow accounts, engage in public conversations, and consume news.

X (Twitter) parents guide: what should a parent know first?

X, formerly Twitter, is a real-time social media platform where users post short messages, images, and videos. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (7/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (8/10).

Is X (Twitter) safe for kids?

We advise X (Twitter) from age 13 and up. Overall risk 8/10 (high risk). It is primarily text-based and allows users to follow accounts, engage in public conversations, and consume news.

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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.