Raising Threads age requirement: what parents should know
Threads age requirement: users must be at least 13, and new users under 16 (under 18 in some countries) start with a private profile, according to the EU's Better Internet for Kids guide and Australia's eSafety Commissioner. Apple's App Store rates Threads 13+, with infrequent profanity, mature themes, drug references, and sexual content, and Google Play rates it Teen. Threads is Meta's text-based app, linked to Instagram. Since December 2025, Australians under 16 can't hold accounts.
Threads at a glance
- ✓Official rating above age 7
App Store: 13+ - ✓Contact with other players or strangers
Replies and messages with others - ✓Purchases with real money
App Store: no-ads subscriptions - –Paid random items
None found - –Violence or scary content in rating descriptors
No violence or horror listed - –Government lawsuits, fines, or safety warnings
None specific to Threads 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 | Text-based social media app by Meta, linked to Instagram |
|---|---|
| App Store (iOS) | 13+ — infrequent profanity, mature themes, drug references, sexual content, weapons; messaging, social media source |
| Google Play | Teen — Users Interact source |
| Minimum age | 13; under 16 (18 in some countries) start with a private profile source |
| Common Sense Media | 14+ — little language restriction; brands promoting alcohol and vapes |
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 the Threads app?
Short answer: Meta's app for short text posts, replies, and conversations, similar to X (Twitter).
It launched in 2023 and is tied to Instagram: the sensitive content setting is shared between the two apps, per Instagram's help pages. Common Sense Media notes brands that promote alcohol and vapes post there.
Threads age requirement: the facts
Short answer: 13 and up, private by default under 16.
- Minimum age: 13; Threads doesn't check age rigorously, according to the Welsh government's Hwb guide.
- Privacy: under-16s (18 in some countries) start with a private profile; it can be changed.
- Rating: App Store 13+; Google Play Teen; Common Sense Media 14+.
- Australia: since December 2025, under-16s can't access or create Threads accounts.
We couldn't confirm whether all Instagram Teen Account protections apply on Threads.
Has Threads faced government action?
Short answer: We found none specific to Threads as of October 2026. Meta has faced state lawsuits over Instagram and Facebook; see our pages on Instagram and Facebook.
The habit kids may copy: the quick reply
Threads rewards fast replies, and a short angry post can travel far.
Try tonight: wait before you answer
When your child is upset with someone, try: "Let's count to five before we answer." Then say the answer out loud together. In our program, this is the lesson "The Pause Button": stop, breathe, choose.
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 the Threads age requirement?
13. Users under 16 (under 18 in some countries) start with a private profile.
What is the Threads app?
A text-based social media app from Meta, linked to Instagram, for posts and replies.
Is Threads safe for kids?
Apple rates Threads 13+, citing infrequent profanity, mature themes, drug references, and sexual content. Common Sense Media lists it for 14 and up.
Do you need Instagram to use Threads?
Threads is linked to Instagram, and some settings, like sensitive content control, are shared between the two apps.
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