Raising Cartoon Network: what parents of kids 4–7 should know
Cartoon Network's app, the Cartoon Network App, is rated 9+ on Apple's App Store for infrequent or mild cartoon or fantasy violence and horror or fear themes, and Google Play rates it Everyone 10+; both list ads. The channel itself has no age rating, because US TV ratings apply to each show: Teen Titans Go! is TV-PG on HBO Max, and Courage the Cowardly Dog is TV-Y7-FV on Cartoon Network's own list. In the evening, the same channel switches to Adult Swim, a block for adults, which has started at 5 p.m. ET since August 2023, according to Wikipedia.
Cartoon Network at a glance
- ✓Official rating above age 7
App Store: 9+; Google Play: Everyone 10+ - –Contact with other players or strangers
No chat listed (App Store, Google Play) - –Purchases with real money
No in-app purchases listed - –Paid random items
None listed - ✓Violence or scary content in rating descriptors
App Store: cartoon/fantasy violence, horror/fear - –Government lawsuits, fines, or safety warnings
None found
Each flag is a yes-or-no fact from the sources on this page. The number is a count of flags, not a safety score. How we count.
| Type | Cartoon Network App by Turner Broadcasting, plus the US kids' cartoon cable channel source |
|---|---|
| Example show ratings | Teen Titans Go!: TV-PG on HBO Max; Courage the Cowardly Dog: TV-Y7-FV on Cartoon Network's list source |
| Cartoon Network App | App Store 9+ — infrequent cartoon or fantasy violence, horror/fear themes; contains ads; TV login for locked episodes source |
| Google Play | Everyone 10+ — Contains ads source |
| Adult Swim | Starts at 5 p.m. ET on the same channel since August 2023, per Wikipedia; its own app is 17+ source |
| Common Sense Media | 10+ for the Cartoon Network App — ads between episodes, content varies by show |
Checked October 2026. Ratings and settings change; check the official source before you decide. What do these ratings mean?
Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.
What is Cartoon Network?
Short answer: A US cable channel of cartoons.
Its shows include Teen Titans Go!, The Amazing World of Gumball, Craig of the Creek, and We Baby Bears, plus Cartoonito shows for preschoolers. In the evening, the channel becomes Adult Swim, which airs animation for adults. Wikipedia says Adult Swim has started at 5 p.m. ET since August 28, 2023; we couldn't confirm the hours on an official schedule.
Cartoon Network: what's in the app
Short answer: It's 9+ on the App Store and shows ads.
- App Store: 9+, infrequent or mild cartoon or fantasy violence and horror/fear themes; contains advertising; no in-app purchases listed.
- Google Play: Everyone 10+, contains ads.
- Login: some episodes are unlocked; adults sign in with a TV provider for more.
- Common Sense Media: 10+, noting commercials between episodes.
Cartoon Network shows: their ratings
Short answer: The channel isn't rated; each show is, and the ones we checked are TV-Y7-FV and TV-PG.
- Teen Titans Go!: TV-PG on HBO Max.
- Courage the Cowardly Dog: TV-Y7-FV on Cartoon Network's own ratings list.
- Adult Swim (same channel, evenings): its own app is rated 17+ on the App Store.
Check each show's own rating, and the clock: the switch to Adult Swim happens on the same channel number.
The habit kids may copy: one more episode
The app plays episode after episode, with ads in between, until someone stops it.
Try tonight: the stopping point
Before your child watches, agree on one episode. When the credits roll, ask: "What's the rule we made? Who's the boss of the remote?" In our program, this is the lesson "My Fort": the rules I keep.
Why you can trust this page: the main facts link to their sources, a separate reviewer checks each page before it goes live, and the date shows when we last checked. How we review · Report an error
FAQ
What is Cartoon Network rated?
The Cartoon Network App is 9+ on the App Store. The channel isn't rated; each show is, and Teen Titans Go! is TV-PG on HBO Max.
What age is the Cartoon Network App for?
The App Store rates it 9+, and Google Play rates it Everyone 10+. Common Sense Media lists it for 10+.
What time does Adult Swim start on Cartoon Network?
Wikipedia says Adult Swim has started at 5 p.m. ET since August 2023.
Does the Cartoon Network App have ads?
Yes. Apple and Google Play both list ads, and Common Sense Media notes commercials between episodes.
More from “Is it good for kids?”
Teen Titans Go!
Comedy cartoon about teenage superheroes
The Amazing World of Gumball
Animated comedy series on Cartoon Network (2011–), about a cat named Gumball
Courage the Cowardly Dog
Animated Cartoon Network horror-comedy by John R. Dilworth, 1999–2002
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