Is Facebook Safe for Kids?
Age rating is set by App Store, not by Unstar. This page explains it and adds what parents report in reviews. Not affiliated with Meta Platforms, Inc..
What Facebook's age rating means
Facebook is rated 12+ on the App Store, meaning it targets older teenagers, not young children. With parental controls and an honest conversation, many teens use apps like this fine, but the rating exists for a reason.
Things for parents to check
- As a Social Networking app, Facebook can put your child in contact with strangers or user-generated content that is not moderated in real time. This is the biggest supervision concern for younger users.
What parents and users report about Facebook
Users frequently complain about excessive ads, poor app performance including bugs and crashes, and a cluttered feed dominated by sponsored content rather than posts from friends. Many also express frustration with intrusive features like forced Reels and algorithmic filtering that hides personal connections.
Summarized from 279 recent 1-3 star reviews. These are user reports, not verified claims.
How to keep your child safe with Facebook
Settings, Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions. Set an age limit for apps, require Ask to Buy for purchases, and restrict or remove Facebook 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 Facebook on your child's device.
Facebook for kids: frequently asked questions
Is Facebook safe for kids?
Facebook has an official age rating of 12+ on the App Store, aimed at older teens rather than young children. It can be appropriate with guidance, parental controls, and a conversation about what to share and who to talk to.
What age rating does Facebook have?
The App Store rates Facebook as 12+. 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 Facebook 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 Facebook 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 Facebook and block or uninstall it. You can also set a store age limit so apps above your child's age cannot be installed.