Minecraft
What is Minecraft?
Minecraft is a sandbox game from Mojang Studios, part of Microsoft, where players build and explore block-based worlds. Creative mode focuses on building with readily available resources; Survival mode adds resource gathering, health, hunger and hostile mobs. Bedrock Edition runs across supported consoles, mobile devices and Windows and includes the Marketplace. Java Edition runs on computers and supports independently operated servers and third-party mods. Players can also use Realms, Mojang’s subscription-based, invite-only hosted worlds. [2] [3]
Age limit: Bedrock Edition, Java Edition, Minecraft Dungeons and Realms require a Microsoft account, and Microsoft treats a user below the statutory age in their country as a child whose account a parent manages: age 13 in Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States, 16 in other EU countries, and 18 in France and Germany. In South Korea the statutory age is 14, and adult consent is also required for gaming for under-19s. A parent account must be associated before a parent can change those settings. Ratings vary by edition and country; check the store listing for the version being used. [1] [5]
Why do kids like it?
- Creative building. Children can build structures and machines, either alone or with other players.
- Playing with friends. Multiplayer makes it a social experience where children collaborate on projects together.
- Creative problem-solving. Building, Redstone and survival play can involve planning, experimentation and collaboration.
- Mods and custom maps. Community-made additions can offer different ways to play.
- Videos and livestreams. Some children also follow Minecraft creators outside the game.
- Recognisable style. The block-based design can make Minecraft easy to recognise.
What are the real risks?
- Public and independent servers. Open servers can include unknown players, chat and community-specific rules or content. Java server owners set and enforce their own additional rules; Microsoft provides player-reporting tools for eligible Java chat, but that does not make every community suitable for children. [1]
- Marketplace spending. Minecoins are used to buy skins, maps and texture packs — costs can add up quickly.
- Unsuitable third-party content. Java mods, custom maps and server files can contain material that does not suit every child. Mojang says its parental controls do not cover modded versions or versions before 1.16.4. [1]
- Malware in downloads. Mods or server files from untrusted sources can contain harmful software.
- Contact can move out of the game. Realms invitations and server communities can lead children to private worlds or linked Discord servers with less oversight. See our Discord guide for more.
Settings to check
- Link the child account: Add the child’s Microsoft account to the adult’s Microsoft family group. Only a parent account can change a Minecraft child account’s privacy and online-safety settings. [1]
- Review multiplayer and Realms: Open account.xbox.com/settings → select the child’s gamertag → Online Safety → You can join multiplayer games. Choose Allow or Block. Review “You can create and join clubs” as well, because Mojang links these controls to multiplayer and Realms access. [1]
- Limit communication: Open account.xbox.com/settings → select the child → Privacy → Others can communicate with voice, text, or invites → choose Everyone, Friends or Block. [1]
- Review friends: Open account.xbox.com/settings → select the child → Online Safety → You can add friends on Xbox Live, then choose whether to allow it. [1]
- Set purchase controls: Use Microsoft Family or Xbox Family Settings to review Ask to Buy and spending. Check the console store separately because purchases made through PlayStation, Nintendo or another platform can follow that platform’s controls. [4]
- Check Java servers and mods: Review the server list, installed mods and download sources. Microsoft family controls do not cover modded game versions. [1]
- Practise hide and report: Open Java Edition multiplayer → Pause → Player Reporting. Select the player to hide messages or report the relevant chat and context to Minecraft moderators. Server owners may also provide their own reporting route. [1]
How to talk about it
“Do you mostly play on your own or on servers with other people? Which servers do you use, and who runs them?”
“What makes a Minecraft server feel safe or unsafe to you?”
“Do you download mods? Where do you find them, and how do you know they’re safe?”
Last reviewed: September 2026