Raising Is Messenger safe for kids? What parents should know
Is Messenger safe for kids? Apple's App Store rates Meta's Messenger 13+, citing infrequent cartoon or fantasy violence, and lists messaging and chat, user content, and advertising. Since April 2025, teens are placed in Teen Accounts, which limit who can message them, and under-16s need a parent's approval to loosen the settings. Messenger Kids is a separate app for younger children, rated 4+, where parents approve every contact.
Messenger (Facebook) at a glance
- ✓Official rating above age 7
App Store: 13+ - ✓Contact with other players or strangers
Messaging, calls, and group chats - ✓Purchases with real money
Avatar items $0.99–$10.99 - –Paid random items
None found - ✓Violence or scary content in rating descriptors
App Store: infrequent cartoon violence - –Government lawsuits, fines, or safety warnings
None against Messenger itself 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 | Messaging and calling app by Meta, linked to Facebook; Messenger Kids is a separate app |
|---|---|
| App Store (iOS) | 13+ — infrequent cartoon or fantasy violence; contains advertising, messaging and chat, user content source |
| Google Play | Everyone — Users Interact, Shares Location, In-App Purchases source |
| Teen Accounts | Since April 2025: teens message only people they follow or have messaged; under-16s need a parent to loosen settings source |
| For younger kids | Messenger Kids: a separate app rated 4+, with parent-approved contacts source |
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 Messenger?
Short answer: Meta's messaging app for texts, voice and video calls, and group chats, linked to Facebook.
It's not the same as Messenger Kids, a separate app for children in which parents approve contacts. See our Messenger Kids page.
Is Messenger safe for kids? The facts
Short answer: It's rated 13+, and teens get Teen Accounts.
- Rating: App Store 13+, with infrequent cartoon or fantasy violence; Google Play Everyone.
- Teen Accounts (since April 2025): teens are enrolled automatically, can get messages only from people they follow or have messaged before, and get a reminder to log off after an hour. Under-16s need a parent's approval to change these settings.
- Purchases: avatar items from $0.99 to $10.99.
- Ads: Apple lists advertising.
Has Meta been sued?
Short answer: Yes, over Facebook and Instagram; we found no case aimed at Messenger itself.
In August 2026, California's attorney general announced a settlement between Meta and a group of states over child-safety lawsuits about Facebook and Instagram; Meta denies the allegations, according to WUSF. In March 2026, a New Mexico jury found Meta violated state law; Meta says it will appeal, NPR reported. Details are on our Facebook page.
The habit kids may copy: the group chat
In a group chat, many people see each message. Someone can be left out of the joke without anyone saying so.
Try tonight: who's left out?
Tell a short story about a birthday party where one child wasn't invited. Ask: "How do you think they felt? What could someone do?" In our program, this is the lesson "Stepping In": noticing when someone's left out or hurt.
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FAQ
What age is Messenger for?
Apple's App Store rates Messenger 13+. Younger kids have a separate app, Messenger Kids, rated 4+.
What's the difference between Messenger and Messenger Kids?
Messenger Kids is a separate app for children in which parents approve contacts; Messenger is Meta's regular app, rated 13+.
Does Messenger have parental controls?
Apple lists Parental Controls among its in-app controls. Teens are placed in Teen Accounts, and under-16s need a parent's approval to loosen message and other settings.
Does Messenger have purchases?
Yes: avatar items cost from $0.99 to $10.99 in the App Store.
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Empathy activities for kids ages 4–7: at age 5, empathy is largely perspective-taking, and it can be practiced with stories, one good question, and three moves.
Read next →Raising Stoics is a 12-week program for ages 5–6, built on Stoic philosophy and developmental psychology. One lesson is "Stepping In": noticing when someone's left out or hurt.