Nintendo
What is Nintendo?
Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 are gaming consoles that can be used with a TV or as handheld devices. Online features vary by game. Supported original Switch games can use voice chat through the Nintendo Switch smart-device app, while Switch 2 has GameChat built into the system. GameChat supports voice chat for up to 12 people, real-time game-screen sharing, and optional video from a compatible USB-C camera; up to four people can share screens or participate in video at the same time. [2] [4]
Age limit: A parent or guardian must create the Nintendo Account for a child aged 12 or under, and that step needs verifiable parental consent; accounts for ages 13 to 17 can be created without it. Game ratings vary by title and country. GameChat is only on Nintendo Switch 2, requires a Nintendo Account and, since the open-access period ended on 31 March 2026, requires Nintendo Switch Online. It is not available in all countries. [3] [7]
Why do kids like it?
- Familiar game series. Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, Splatoon and Animal Crossing offer different styles of play.
- Playing together on the couch. Nintendo Switch supports local multiplayer — multiple players can share the console with split Joy-Cons. It’s social and inclusive.
- Portable play. The console can be used as a handheld away from the TV.
- Games for different ages. Many Nintendo titles are designed for families, while the eShop also carries games with higher age ratings.
- Creativity and collecting. Some Nintendo games involve building, designing, collecting or trading.
What are the real risks?
- Online play with strangers. In games like Splatoon, Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros., children can be matched with unknown players.
- Voice, video and screen sharing. GameChat can reveal voices, game screens and the room seen by a camera. A parent or guardian must be involved for players under 16 and supervised accounts. Under-16 users can chat only with parent-approved friends, and every attempt to use video chat needs approval in the parent’s app. [1]
- eShop spending. Digital games, add-ons and in-game purchases can create unexpected costs if Nintendo Account purchase restrictions are not configured.
- Friend code sharing. Friend codes can be shared in chats, on social media or in gaming forums and create contact with strangers.
- Third-party games with mature content. The eShop also contains games from other developers with higher age ratings than Nintendo’s own family-friendly titles.
Settings to check
- Connect the Parental Controls app: Install Nintendo Switch Parental Controls on the parent’s phone, link the console and choose a PIN the child does not know. The restrictions apply to the console, not separately to each local user. [1]
- Set play time: Open the app → Console Settings → Play-Time Limit, choose a daily limit and decide whether to use only an alarm or Suspend Software when the limit is reached.
- Choose a restriction level: Open the app → Console Settings → Restriction Level, then choose a preset or Custom Settings. Review Restricted Software, Posting Screenshots/Videos to Social Media and Communicating with Others. Availability differs by game and console. [1]
- Set up GameChat: Complete GameChat setup on Switch 2. In the parental-controls app, approve only people the child knows. For players under 16, each video-chat attempt sends a new approval request to the parent. [1]
- Review GameChat history: Open the parental-controls app and review who the child chatted with, the duration and the camera field-of-view setting. This is activity information, not a promise that a parent can replay every conversation. [1]
- Restrict eShop purchases: Sign in to the parent/guardian Nintendo Account → Family group → select the supervised account → Spending/Purchase Restrictions. These are Nintendo Account controls, separate from the console parental-controls PIN. [5]
- Practise leaving and reporting: Open GameChat → press the C Button → select the participant → Report → Leave Chat and Report. Report the specific interaction so Nintendo receives useful context, and block the user when further contact should stop. [6]
How to talk about it
“Who do you usually play against online — friends you know, or random players?”
“Which chat features does your game use — the phone app, in-game chat or GameChat?”
“What do you do if someone you don’t know asks for your friend code?”
Last reviewed: September 2026