Is The Australian Safe for Kids?
Age rating is set by Google Play, not by Unstar. This page explains it and adds what parents report in reviews. Not affiliated with News Digital Media..
What The Australian's age rating means
The Australian holds a family-friendly Rated for 3+ rating on the Google Play. It is broadly appropriate, but a low age rating does not remove every risk: check whether it has chat, ads, or in-app purchases below.
Things for parents to check
- The Australian offers in-app purchases. Without a purchase password or spending limit, a child can run up charges. Set up Ask to Buy (iOS) or a Play purchase PIN (Android).
- The Australian shows ads. Ads inside kids' apps can lead to unexpected content or accidental taps that open other stores or links.
What parents and users report about The Australian
Users frequently complain about the app crashing or freezing unexpectedly, often in the middle of reading articles. Many report issues with the app not updating content properly, requiring repeated reinstalls to refresh. The interface is criticized for being unintuitive, with broken features like the Home button and poor navigation.
Summarized from 440 recent 1-3 star reviews. These are user reports, not verified claims.
How to keep your child safe with The Australian
Settings, Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions. Set an age limit for apps, require Ask to Buy for purchases, and restrict or remove The Australian if it is above your child's age.
Use Google Family Link to approve installs, set a Play Store content rating limit, require purchase approval, and block or uninstall The Australian on your child's device.
The Australian for kids: frequently asked questions
Is The Australian safe for kids?
The Australian carries a family-friendly official rating (Rated for 3+) on the Google Play. That makes it broadly suitable, but even family-rated apps can include chat, ads, or in-app purchases, so check the factors below.
What age rating does The Australian have?
The Google Play rates The Australian as Rated for 3+. This is the store's own content rating, set from the app's features and content, not our opinion. Use it as the starting point for whether it fits your child's age.
Can my child use The Australian safely?
If you decide to allow it, use device parental controls: Screen Time and Content & Privacy Restrictions on iPhone, or Family Link and Play Store parental controls on Android. Turn on purchase approval, set age-appropriate content limits, and keep the account under your family group so you can see activity.
How do I block or remove The Australian from my child's phone?
On iPhone, open Settings, Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions, then restrict or delete the app and block reinstalling it. On Android, open Family Link, select your child, find The Australian and block or uninstall it. You can also set a store age limit so apps above your child's age cannot be installed.