Is ESPN 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 Disney.
What ESPN's age rating means
ESPN holds a family-friendly Everyone 10+ 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
- ESPN 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).
- ESPN 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 ESPN
Users frequently complain about poor streaming quality, including buffering, crashes, and freezing. Many are frustrated with excessive ads, intrusive notifications for unwanted sports, and confusing subscription requirements. The app's interface is also criticized for being difficult to navigate and lacking basic features like picture-in-picture or resume playback.
Summarized from 344 recent 1-3 star reviews. These are user reports, not verified claims.
How to keep your child safe with ESPN
Settings, Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions. Set an age limit for apps, require Ask to Buy for purchases, and restrict or remove ESPN 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 ESPN on your child's device.
ESPN for kids: frequently asked questions
Is ESPN safe for kids?
ESPN carries a family-friendly official rating (Everyone 10+) 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 ESPN have?
The Google Play rates ESPN as Everyone 10+. 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 ESPN 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 ESPN 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 ESPN and block or uninstall it. You can also set a store age limit so apps above your child's age cannot be installed.