Social Media and Age Minimums
"Everyone in my class has it." If your child is asking for TikTok, Snapchat or another social app, here's what the age rules say and how to talk about it.
Most platforms say 13
Many apps set 13 as the youngest age for an account. From their own terms:
TikTok: children under 13 (under 14 in Florida) can't use the regular app. In the US there's a separate Under 13 Experience with extra protections.Snapchat: not for anyone under 13. Snapchat calls itself a 13+ platform.Discord: you must be at least 13.WhatsApp: at least 13 to use it on your own. Where it's available, a parent can create a parent-managed account for a younger child.YouTube: in most countries, 13 is the minimum age to manage your own Google Account. Younger children can use YouTube Kids or a supervised account (see YouTube and Video Apps).Some countries and states set an older age. Terms change, so check the app's own terms before you decide.
Why 13?
In the US, the federal children's privacy law, COPPA, protects children under 13: it applies to apps and websites for children under 13 that collect their personal information. So 13 is a line about privacy. It doesn't mean an app is right for every 13-year-old.
Starting the conversation
Ask what they want the app for: friends, videos, a group from school.Look at the app together, including its privacy settings. The AAP suggests checking privacy settings, and talking about ads and influencers, before using a new app.Some platforms have tools for parents of teens. Snapchat's Family Center, for example, shows a parent who their teen is friends with and who they have messaged recently.If the answer is "not yet", say why, and agree on when you'll talk about it again.What ParentSEE shows
ParentSEE shows which social apps and sites your child's devices reach, when, and roughly for how long. It never sees posts or chats, or who your child talks to.