Please note: this guide is general information for parents, not medical, psychological or other professional advice, and it can’t take your child’s individual situation into account. If you’re worried about your child’s health, wellbeing or safety, speak to their school or a qualified professional such as your family doctor. In an emergency, contact your local emergency number.
Most major social media platforms set a minimum age of 13 in their terms, and some countries have introduced or are debating laws that raise the age further. Many parents choose to wait longer than the minimum. The right age for your child depends on the platform, the law where you live, and how ready your child is to handle what comes with an account.
What the rules say
- Platform terms: most major platforms require users to be at least 13; some features or platforms have higher ages. Check the terms of each service your child asks about.
- The law: rules differ by country, and some governments have introduced age limits higher than 13 or new age-checking requirements. Check what applies where you live.
- Lying about age to get an account breaks the platform’s terms and can remove protections designed for younger users.
Why many parents wait longer
- Social media can bring pressure to compare, perform and be constantly available.
- Content and contact from strangers are harder to control than on other apps.
- It can eat into sleep, homework and offline friendships.
- Younger children may find it harder to handle unkindness or exclusion online.
There are also positives — staying connected, creativity, finding communities with shared interests. The question is readiness and set-up.
Signs your child may be ready
- They meet the platform’s age requirement and the law where you live.
- They understand privacy and think before sharing.
- They can tell you about upsetting things online.
- They manage their current screen time reasonably well.
- They can cope with not being included or with negative comments.
Setting up a first account together
- Create the account together, with the correct birth date.
- Set the account to private and review who can contact them.
- Turn off location sharing in posts.
- Agree what’s OK to post — and what never is.
- Agree time limits and phone-free times.
- Agree that they’ll come to you if something goes wrong, without automatically losing the account.
See also digital footprint for teens and how to keep kids safe online.
When “all my friends have it”
Talk to other parents — collective decisions make waiting easier. Offer alternatives for staying in touch, such as group messaging with people they know in real life, and set a date to review the decision.
Keep talking after the account exists
Ask what they enjoy, who they follow and what’s been annoying or upsetting. Regular, curious conversations do more for safety than any single setting.
Screens can be for learning too. The AI Tutor Vault turns a free AI app into a patient study helper that asks questions instead of giving answers. See the AI Tutor Vault.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age for social media?
Most major platforms set 13 in their terms, but some are higher and laws differ by country. Check the specific platform and your local rules.
Should I let my 11-year-old have social media?
Most major platforms don’t allow users under 13 in their terms. Messaging with people they know offline is a common alternative for this age.
How do I keep my teen safe on social media?
Private accounts, careful contact settings, no location sharing, agreed limits and regular conversations — and making sure they know they can come to you.
Is social media bad for teenagers?
It has risks and benefits. How it’s used, how much and what it replaces matter. If you notice changes in mood or sleep, talk to your family doctor.
Next steps
Check the terms of the platform your child is asking about and your local rules. If you decide it’s time, set the account up together using the steps above.