[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/06\/05085442\/2024-05-Blog_IsRedditSafeforKids_Hero.png” alt=”Father and son using Reddit” title_text=”2024-05-Blog_IsRedditSafeforKids_Hero” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
NSFW, AMA, TIL, AITA, TL;DR\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Recognize any of these?<\/span><\/p>\n We can thank Reddit for enriching our vocabularies with these abbreviations, and for reminding us that no matter how weird and wonderful our interest is, there\u2019s a community dedicated to it.<\/span><\/p>\n Reddit\u2019s vast network of communities, or subreddits, allows its <\/span>73 million daily active users<\/span><\/a> to \u201cdive into anything\u201d – and although it can be a bottomless well of information and entertainment, there\u2019s a dark side to Reddit that parents need to be aware of.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Launched in 2005, Reddit.com was branded the \u201cfront page of the internet\u201d for good reason.<\/span> Essentially, Reddit is a giant bulletin board of user-generated posts segregated into individual communities<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n Reddit users, known as <\/span>Redditors<\/span><\/i>, engage in discussions below the post where their comment can be upvoted or downvoted – the more upvotes a comment gets, the more prominent it appears in the thread. If a comment or post goes against the community guidelines, it will usually be removed by <\/span>moderators<\/span><\/i> – users who\u2019ve volunteered to enforce the rules and keep the subreddit on track.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are over <\/span>100,000 subreddits<\/span><\/a> dedicated to news, sports, TV fan theories, cute animals, as well as much more niche topics. To illustrate, a subreddit dedicated solely to pictures of birds with arms (r\/<\/span>birdswitharms<\/span><\/a>) has over 1 million members!<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Reddit is the <\/span>7th most visited website<\/span><\/a> in the world with a userbase that leans heavily towards the young. In the US, Reddit is <\/span>most commonly used by 18 to 29-year-olds<\/span><\/a> and almost half (44%) of this section of the population uses the app or website. And under-18s? Our 2023 data report revealed that <\/span>around 40% of children<\/span><\/a> in the US, Australia, and the UK are active Redditors.<\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps one of the biggest attractions of Reddit is the <\/span>user\u2019s relative anonymity compared with other social media platforms<\/b>; Redditors rarely use their real names and profile pictures are usually an avatar. In contrast to Instagram and Facebook, the content is the focus, rather than the person posting it.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Reddit\u2019s <\/span>User Agreement<\/span><\/a> states that <\/span>no one under 13 is allowed to use or access the platform<\/b>. However, as no ID\/passport is required to prove a user\u2019s birth date, it\u2019s easy for someone younger to lie about their age and sign up.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/06\/05085732\/2024-05-Blog_IsRedditSafeforKids_InsideImage.png” alt=”Family using Reddit” title_text=”2024-05-Blog_IsRedditSafeforKids_InsideImage” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n With over 100k subreddits to choose from, children really can dive into anything – from the educational and thought-provoking to the downright seedy and dangerous.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some Reddit red flags that every parent needs to be aware of:<\/span><\/p>\n No age verification\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Users can sign up without having to verify their age. So even though Reddit has a minimum user age of 13, under-13s can easily create an account and access inappropriate content.<\/span><\/p>\n Easy access to mature content – and lots of it!<\/b><\/p>\n Subreddits and content labeled as NSFW (not safe\/suitable for work) are ubiquitous on Reddit; many would argue it\u2019s one of the things the platform is most famous for. <\/span>Pornography<\/span><\/a>, violence, and gore imagery would come under the NSFW umbrella, as well as text posts of an adult nature; such as sex, self-harm, and suicide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To view NSFW content, users need to log in and click a \u201cYes, I\u2019m over 18\u201d button – but when has that ever deterred anyone?<\/span><\/p>\n Hate speech<\/b><\/p>\n Although Reddit vows to ban users who <\/span>incite violence or promote hate<\/span><\/a> based on identity; racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and other examples of hate speech can be found throughout the platform.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The risk of being exposed to hate speech depends on the nature and size of the subreddit – with fewer members and less moderation, it\u2019s easier for such language to slip through the cracks of smaller ones. Some non-English communities are particularly problematic due to <\/span>Reddit\u2019s lack of policing<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Abusive comments<\/b><\/p>\n Most Redditors flock to their favorite subreddit to discuss, debate, share advice or a light-hearted joke. But there are a minority who exploit the anonymous nature of the platform to abuse, <\/span>troll, and cyberbully<\/span><\/a> other Redditors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Private messages and group chat\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Like most other social media platforms, Reddit allows users to connect via private messages and invites to group chats. This can expose young Redditors to cyberbullies, <\/span>online predators<\/span><\/a>, sextorters, and other nefarious users taking advantage of the anonymous nature of the platform.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Spread of misinformation<\/b><\/p>\n As Reddit\u2019s content is created and moderated almost entirely by its users, this allows communities of all kinds to spring up and flourish – but on the downside, it means you should be extra careful about what you believe.<\/span><\/p>\n Children tend to be more trusting than adults and may take everything they read on Reddit at face value. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important for parents to <\/span>teach kids how to spot fake news.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Reddit lacks controls that allow parents to safeguard and monitor their child\u2019s activities on the platform. You can change settings, for example, to prevent strangers from private messaging them, but this requires you to log into your child\u2019s account – and trust that they won\u2019t just change the settings back!<\/span><\/p>\n In place of in-built controls, many parents use a comprehensive <\/span>parental control app<\/span><\/a> like Qustodio to help them monitor and limit their child\u2019s access to Reddit.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Despite the potential dangers, Reddit can be a place where your teen can learn, explore their passions, and connect with others who share the same interests.<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re considering allowing your teen to be a Redditor, here are a few tips to help them have a safer experience on the platform.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 1. Over 16s only<\/b><\/p>\n Reddit\u2019s official age rating is 13, but we think this is far too young to be exposed to the adult content that can easily be found throughout the communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After using the platform ourselves and reading reviews from parents, <\/span>we recommend that children be at least 16 before using Reddit.\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n 2. Talk with your teen<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Start by taking an interest in the subreddits your teen interacts with, without judgment, to help lay the groundwork for open communication. If your teen encounters something, or someone, problematic on the site, they\u2019ll be more likely to come to you for guidance.<\/span><\/p>\n Other conversation jumping-off points could be why it\u2019s important to be <\/span>kind online<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>what to do about cyberbullying<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat is Reddit?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Why do young people like Reddit?<\/b><\/h2>\n
How old do you have to be to use Reddit?<\/b><\/h2>\n
\u00a0<\/h2>\n
So, is Reddit safe for kids?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Does Reddit have parental controls?<\/b><\/h2>\n
7 tips to make Reddit safer for teens<\/b><\/h2>\n