Our age is 17. Take care because of mature communities and chat with strangers.
Checked October 2026.
- Our rating
- High Risk
- Chat
- Comments and Reddit Chat, which replaced private messages in 2025.
- Spending
- Reddit Premium and Gold awards, bought in the app
- Parent controls
- None, only the account's own settings
- Plays on
- iOS, Android, Web
- Users
- 490M+ weekly (Reddit, March 2026)
Why we say take care
Reddit is a community-based platform organized into "subreddits" - forums dedicated to specific topics. Users post text, links, images, and videos, and content is voted up or down. It's often called "the front page of the internet" and contains communities for nearly every interest imaginable.
- NSFW Content EverywhereReddit hosts extensive pornographic and violent content. Even with filters, it can surface unexpectedly.
- Community VariabilityModeration varies wildly between subreddits. Some are toxic echo chambers while others are supportive communities.
- Anonymity RisksThe anonymous culture can embolden harmful behavior and makes it easy for predators to operate.
- Rabbit HolesReddit's structure encourages deep exploration that can lead to increasingly extreme content.
- MisinformationWhile some communities fact-check vigorously, others spread conspiracy theories and dangerous health misinformation.
- Chat RequestsReddit Chat, which replaced private messages in 2025, lets strangers send chat requests unless the setting is changed.
Talk about it
- What subreddits do you follow?Shows interest in their specific communities.
- Have you seen anything on Reddit that made you uncomfortable?Opens space for discussing concerning content.
- How do you know if advice you read on Reddit is reliable?Builds critical thinking.
- Do you ever interact with people there, or just read?Assesses engagement level.
Settings to change first
Keep the "Show mature (18+) content" setting off and enable blur. Disable chat requests from strangers. Curate subreddit subscriptions carefully. Don't share identifying information. Use a random username.
The complete Reddit parent guide, with age-by-age settings, is part of the Family plan.
The full guide
Reddit is one of the internet's largest platforms, home to thousands of communities ("subreddits") covering every topic imaginable — including many that are deeply inappropriate for minors. Understanding Reddit's structure and configuring proper safety settings is essential before any teen uses it.
Reddit contains subreddits with explicit sexual content, graphic violence, self-harm communities, drug discussion, and extremist content. While filters exist, they are bypassable and imperfect.
What Is Reddit?
How Reddit Works
Reddit is organized into "subreddits" — individual communities focused on specific topics. There are well over 100,000 active communities covering:
- Hobbies and interests (gaming, cooking, sports)
- News and politics
- Humor and memes
- Educational content (science, history, how-to)
- Explicit adult content (marked NSFW)
- Harmful communities (some have been banned; more exist)
Why Teens Use Reddit
- Discuss specific interests in niche communities
- Ask questions anonymously ("am I the only one who...")
- Gaming community discussions
- Mental health communities (helpful and harmful)
- Humor, AMAs, and viral content
Key Risks
- NSFW content: In the US, explicit images and videos sit behind only a birthdate or a simple click
- Graphic violence: News subreddits and others may contain disturbing imagery
- Self-harm communities: Some communities glorify dangerous behaviors
- Anonymity: Easy to create accounts without real identification
- No parental controls: No family linking or supervision features
- Radicalization risk: Some communities promote extreme views
Account Settings and Safety
Safe Browsing Mode
Enable Safe browsing mode. This blurs or hides content marked as mature (18+, also called NSFW) in feeds and search results.
Even with Safe Browsing enabled, a user can manually navigate to an NSFW subreddit and view content after a single age-verification click. Safe Browsing reduces accidental exposure but does not prevent intentional access.
NSFW Content Toggle
Ensure this toggle is OFF. When it's off, mature posts and communities won't appear. On Android the same toggle is under Settings > View options; the iPhone app doesn't have it, so change it on the website and it syncs to every device.
Blur Mature Images
Enable this as an additional layer — even if a mature post appears, the image will be blurred until tapped.
Privacy Settings
Make the Account Private
- Disable "Allow people to follow you"
- Disable "Show up in search results"
These reduce visibility to strangers.
Who Can Send Chat Requests
Change from "Everyone" to "Nobody". Reddit replaced private messages with Reddit Chat in 2025, so this one setting now covers direct contact. Old private messages stay as a read-only archive.
Reddit users are often anonymous, which can feel liberating for teens but also means they may share personal details in communities, be targeted by strangers, or engage with communities they wouldn't if their identity were known.
Reddit's Age Requirements
Official Policy
Reddit's Terms of Service require users to be at least 13. Mature (18+) communities ask for a birthdate or a click, but in the US there's no actual verification.
UK and EU: Real Age Checks
Since July 2025, Reddit has required UK users to confirm their age — via a selfie or government ID processed by a third party (Persona) — before viewing mature content. Since June 24, 2026, accounts in the EU, EEA and Switzerland that Reddit believes are under 18 lose access to mature content and get locked-down chat and profile settings (13- to 15-year-olds can't loosen them). In Australia, Reddit has had to keep under-16s off the platform since December 10, 2025, under the national social media minimum age law.
What Parents Should Know
- In the US, there's no meaningful way to verify a child's age on Reddit
- A 12-year-old can create an account easily
- Once logged in, mature content can be reached with a birthdate and a click
Monitoring Without Surveillance
The Challenge
Reddit accounts are typically anonymous — even if you know your teen's username, their comment history may be in communities you'd find concerning, and posts are often frank in ways teens wouldn't be in person.
Approach: Open Conversation
Rather than trying to monitor Reddit secretly, consider:
- Discussing Reddit directly and openly
- Asking what subreddits they follow
- Reviewing together what types of communities exist
- Setting a family agreement about what communities are off-limits
Device-Level Controls
Block Reddit via Screen Time
Because Reddit has limited parental controls, device-level blocks are often more effective:
iOS (Screen Time):
Then add reddit.com under Never Allow.
Android (Family Link): Block the Reddit app via Family Link app controls.
Consider Blocking Entirely
For children under 16, blocking Reddit access entirely at the device level is often the safest and simplest choice. Reddit's benefits for teens don't outweigh the access it provides to harmful content without robust controls.
Two-Factor Authentication
Protect the Account
Enable 2FA to protect against unauthorized access. This also means you can require your teen to sign in with you present.
Specific Concerning Subreddit Types
Types of Subreddits to Be Aware Of
Many problem communities have been banned, but similar ones continue to emerge. Be aware of:
- Self-harm and eating disorder communities: May glorify dangerous behaviors despite Reddit policies
- Relationship and age-gap communities: Some normalize inappropriate relationships
- Extremist and radicalization communities: Political and ideological echo chambers
- Substance use subreddits: Detailed drug discussion and sourcing
- "Incel" and misogynistic spaces: Harmful content toward women
Reddit relies primarily on community moderators (volunteers) and automated tools. Harmful content regularly exists for extended periods before removal.
Age-Based Recommendations
We suggest Reddit for 17 and up. If your child is already on it younger, these are the settings to tighten for their age.
Under 16
- Block Reddit at device level
- Explain why: the platform isn't designed for younger teens
- Offer alternatives for specific interests (Discord servers, hobby-specific apps)
Ages 16–17
- If allowing: accounts reviewed with parent present
- Safe browsing mode and mature content filters enabled
- DMs disabled
- Discussion about what communities are appropriate
- Regular check-ins about their experience
Quick Setup Checklist
Additional Resources
You now understand Reddit's risks and have configured the available safety settings. For most teens, an open conversation about Reddit — and honest household rules about use — is more protective than any setting alone.