X
Our age is 17. Take care because of adult content and message requests from strangers.
Checked October 2026.
- Our rating
- High Risk
- Chat
- Public replies plus private Chat messages. Message requests from strangers are allowed unless switched off.
- Spending
- X Premium subscriptions, bought in the app
- Parent controls
- None, only the account's own privacy settings
- Plays on
- iOS, Android, Web
- Users
- 600M+ (unaudited)
- Setup
- 8 stops, about 10 minutes
Do these three first
- Protect their postsSettings and privacyPrivacy and safetyAudience and taggingProtect your postsMake the account private so only approved followers see posts.
- Restrict direct messagesSettings and privacyPrivacy and safetyDirect messagesStop message requests from people they don't follow.
- Filter sensitive contentSettings and privacyPrivacy and safetyContent you seeKeep adult and graphic media behind a warning.
Why we say take care
X (formerly Twitter) is a microblogging platform where users post short messages ("posts"), share links, images, and videos, and interact through likes, reposts, and replies. The platform is known for real-time news, trending topics, and often heated public discourse.
- Reduced ModerationSince 2022, content moderation has decreased significantly, resulting in more explicit content, hate speech, and harassment on the platform.
- Explicit ContentAdult content is permitted (with content warnings) and often surfaces on timelines or through trending topics. In early 2026, X's built-in Grok AI was used to make sexualized edits of real people's photos, including minors; X says it has since blocked that, but Grok is still in the app.
- MisinformationX is a major vector for false information on politics, health, and current events.
- Harassment CultureDogpiling, quote-tweet mocking, and coordinated harassment are common, especially for those who post opinions.
- Direct Message RisksNew accounts may be pre-set to accept message requests from people your child does not follow.
- Addiction DesignInfinite scroll, notifications, and engagement metrics drive compulsive use.
Talk about it
- What do you use X/Twitter for? News, friends, entertainment?Understand their purpose for using it.
- Have you seen misinformation or content that turned out to be false?Build critical thinking about sources.
- Has anyone ever been mean to you or others in replies?Address harassment directly.
- Do you think what people post on X represents their real selves?Discuss the performative nature of the platform.
The full route: 8 stops, about 10 minutes
- Open privacy settings
- Protect their posts
- Restrict direct messages
- Filter sensitive content
- Learn mute and block
- Turn off location
- Limit who can find them
- Check the settings
Start the setupFree to follow. With Family, your progress is saved for each child.
The complete X parent guide, with age-by-age settings, is part of the Family plan.
The full guide
X (formerly Twitter) is one of the largest public social networks. While many teens use it to follow news, entertainment, and creators, the platform's open nature and limited parental controls make it one of the harder platforms to manage for younger users.
Unlike TikTok or Instagram, X does not offer a Family Pairing or supervised experience feature. Safety depends on account settings, content filters, and ongoing conversations with your teen.
Understanding X (Twitter)
How It Works
X is an open public platform where users post short messages ("posts" or "tweets"), reply to others, share posts, and follow accounts. By default, most accounts are public — anyone can read posts without an account.
Why Teens Use It
- Follow favorite celebrities, athletes, and creators
- Keep up with news and trends
- Participate in fandom communities
- Share opinions and connect with peers
- Humor, memes, and trending topics
Key Risks
- Sensitive content: Graphic images, explicit material, violent news
- Harassment and hate speech: Common on the platform
- Radicalization: Algorithm can surface extreme views
- Impersonation: Easy to create fake accounts
- Direct messages (now called Chat): Strangers can send message requests unless switched off
- No parental oversight tools: Limited controls available
Account Privacy Settings
Make the Account Private (Protected)
Toggle ON "Protect your posts." With a protected account:
- Only approved followers can see posts
- New followers must be manually approved
- Posts cannot be reposted by others
- Posts don't appear in public search
Accounts that already followed your teen before the switch can still see their posts, so remove any followers you don't know.
For most teens, a private/protected account is the right default. It limits exposure to strangers while still allowing connection with friends and approved accounts.
Who Can Find Your Account
Disable:
- "Let others find you by your email address"
- "Let others find you by your phone number"
- "Sync address book contacts"
This prevents strangers from finding your teen's account via contact information.
Sensitive Content Filters
Enable Content Warning Interstitials
- Leave "Display media that may contain sensitive content" off — this keeps images and videos flagged as sensitive behind a warning screen
X hosts significant amounts of explicit, violent, and disturbing content. Even with filters enabled, determined users can access this content. Filters reduce exposure but are not a complete barrier.
Search Filters
Toggle ON "Hide sensitive content" in search results to reduce exposure when searching.
Direct Messages (Chat)
X is rebuilding direct messages as "Chat", and a standalone XChat app came to iPhone in April 2026, so your teen's app may say Chat where this guide says Direct messages. The message settings below are in the X app's Privacy and safety settings.
Who Can Send Message Requests
Under "Allow message requests from":
- Everyone (not recommended for teens)
- Verified users (anyone who pays for verification)
- No one (only people your teen follows can message them)
For teens, choose "No one". If your teen's app shows checkboxes instead, leave both "everyone" and "Verified users" unchecked, which has the same effect.
Message Filtering
Keep the quality filter on (it's on by default in the iPhone and Android apps). It hides requests X thinks are low quality behind a filter at the bottom of the Requests inbox, without notifications.
Muting and Blocking
Mute Words
Add keywords, phrases, or hashtags that, when present in posts, will hide that content from the feed. Useful for blocking exposure to specific topics.
Block Accounts
From any account:
Blocked accounts cannot view your profile, interact with posts, or send messages.
Mute Accounts
Muting hides an account's posts without notifying them — useful for accounts your teen prefers not to see without creating conflict.
Notification Controls
Limit Who Can Notify You
Enable notification quality filters:
- "Quality filter" — filters low-quality notifications
- Optionally: Only receive notifications from accounts your teen follows
This reduces exposure to harassment-style notifications from strangers.
Safety and Reporting
Report Harmful Content
From any post or account:
Categories include:
- Spam
- Sensitive or disturbing media
- Abusive or harmful behavior
- Impersonation
- Suicide or self-harm content
Report Harassment
X has a dedicated harassment reporting flow. Encourage teens to report — and not just block — genuinely harmful content so the platform can take action.
Two-Factor Authentication
Protect the Account
Enable 2FA to protect against unauthorized access. If the account is compromised, a second verification step prevents login.
The Algorithm and Your Feed
Home Feed vs. For You
X shows two feeds:
- For You: Algorithmic feed of recommended content
- Following: Chronological feed of followed accounts only
Following is generally safer for teens — it limits exposure to algorithmically amplified content and keeps the feed predictable.
Encourage your teen to switch to the "Following" tab as their default view rather than "For You." This significantly reduces exposure to polarizing, viral, or inappropriate recommended content.
What Parents Should Know
X Has Changed Since Twitter
Under new ownership, X has:
- Reduced content moderation staffing
- Restored many previously suspended accounts
- Made verification a paid feature (complicating trust)
- Officially permitted adult content (since mid-2024), as long as it's labeled
These changes make the platform riskier than the old Twitter for younger users.
Age Verification
X requires users to be 13+, and users must be 18+ to view adult content. Where laws require it — including the UK, Ireland, the EU and Australia — X uses age assurance (estimates from account signals, then facial age estimation or ID checks) to gate adult content. In the US, there's still no meaningful age check, and the platform has no supervised experience or parental controls for minors anywhere.
Age-Based Recommendations
We suggest X for 17 and up. If your child is already on it younger, these are the settings to tighten for their age.
Under 16
- Consider delaying X entirely
- If using, protected (private) account only
- DMs disabled
- Regular account reviews with parent
- No connection to real name or location
Ages 16–17
- Protected account preferred
- Message requests set to "No one"
- Sensitive content filters ON
- Discussion about the platform's nature
- Know who they follow and why
Quick Setup Checklist
Additional Resources
X's safety settings are now configured. Given the platform's open nature and limited parental tools, regular conversations and account reviews are the most important protective measures.