PlayStation
What is PlayStation?
PlayStation is Sony’s console platform, including PS5 and PS4. A PlayStation Network account can support friends, online multiplayer, text and voice chat, shared screenshots or video clips and PlayStation Store purchases, depending on the game, subscription and family settings. [1]
Age limit: A player under 18 needs a responsible adult to agree to the account and help create it. That adult sets age levels on the child account, covering communication, spending and play time. [2] [6]
Why do kids like it?
- Games and familiar series — a broad catalogue and PlayStation series attract different age groups.
- Playing with friends — online multiplayer lets them play together with friends after school.
- Social features — messages, group chats and Parties create a sense of belonging.
- VR experiences — PlayStation VR2 provides another way to play supported games.
What are the real risks?
- Voice and text communication. Parties, messages and game chat can connect children with unknown players when the relevant controls allow it. [1]
- Profile and activity can be visible to strangers. Privacy settings control who can see profile information and activity, and a child can widen them wherever a parent has left that setting under the child’s control. [3]
- In-game and PlayStation Store purchases. Microtransactions, add-ons and game purchases can create unexpected costs.
- Sharing can reveal more than intended. Messages, screenshots, clips or broadcasts can expose a voice, online ID, notifications or the room around a player.
- Game-specific systems. A publisher’s own account, voice chat or store may need separate settings.
Settings to check
- Create the family: Open PS5 Settings → Family and Parental Controls → Family Management, then add or select the child account. You can also use the PlayStation Family app or Account Management on the web. [2]
- Set game and media age levels: Open Family Management → select the child → Parental Controls, then review the PS5/PS4 game and Blu-ray/DVD age levels. Ratings vary by product and country, so check descriptors as well as the number. [2]
- Restrict communication and user-generated content: Open Family Management → select the child → Parental Controls → Communication and User-Generated Content. This setting can limit chat and content shared by other users, but game-specific systems may need separate checks. [2]
- Set a monthly spending limit: Open Family Management → select the child → Parental Controls → Monthly Spending Limit. Child purchases use the family manager’s wallet, up to the configured limit. [2]
- Set play time: Open Family Management → select the child → Parental Controls → Play Time Settings, then choose allowed hours and what happens when time ends. [2]
- Review privacy: Open Settings → Users and Accounts → Privacy → View and Customize Your Privacy Settings. A family manager, parent or guardian can manage a child’s privacy and decide which settings the child may change. [3]
- Limit unknown contact: Open Privacy and review who can send friend requests and messages. “Friends Only” is an available choice for messages from people the child does not know. [4]
- Practise block and report: Open More/Options → Report from the relevant message, profile, Party or content, then choose the closest reason. PlayStation supports reports from PS5, PS4 and PlayStation App; block the account as well when contact should stop. [4] [5]
How to talk about it
“Who do you play with online? Are they friends you know, or people you met in the game?”
“Which chat features do you use most — Parties, messages or in-game voice chat?”
“What could your online ID or profile name tell other people about who you are?”
Last reviewed: September 2026