Is X (Twitter) OK for my child?
The news-and-argument platform, now with a significant difference from every other mainstream app: adult content is officially allowed, behind labels and filters.
Minimum age
13
Explicitly permits adult content, which most other mainstream platforms do not.
Type
Social media
Official safety page
X safety and security helpWhat to actually watch for
- Pornographic content is permitted platform policy, gated by settings rather than absent.
- The culture rewards outrage, and the algorithmic feed serves it.
- DMs and reply culture expose users to strangers at their worst.
The settings worth switching on
Sensitive content filters are on by default for new accounts; check they stay on.
Restrict DMs to people they follow.
Mute words and topics liberally; it meaningfully changes the feed.
Our honest take
Hard to recommend for children, honestly. The platform officially permits adult content and its settings are the only barrier, which puts the burden entirely on configuration staying correct. For a teenager who needs it (following football, news or a career interest), lock the filters and DMs; for anyone younger there are better places for everything X does.
Frequently asked questions
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Other social media apps parents ask about
Last reviewed: August 2026. Minimum ages and settings were checked against the platform's own published policies, and platforms change them often, so the official page linked above always has the latest.