What is Reddit?
Reddit is a network of topic-based communities called subreddits. People use pseudonymous accounts to post text, images, videos, and links, vote on content, comment, and chat. Communities range from practical learning and hobbies to material intended only for adults.
Age limit: Reddit’s global baseline is 13, but local rules can be higher. Reddit currently requires users in Australia to be at least 16. In Brazil, people aged 13–15 need parent or guardian approval for independent use under local rules. [1] [4] [5]
Reddit uses age information and other signals to place teen accounts into a more protective state. The age-assurance method can differ by region and device. [2] [3]
Why do kids like it?
- A community for almost any interest. Games, music, study, sport, crafts, and niche hobbies all have active spaces.
- Answers from other people. Teens often add “Reddit” to a search when they want experiences rather than a polished article.
- Pseudonymous participation. A username can make it easier to ask questions or explore an identity.
- Fast-moving entertainment. Memes, stories, debates, and comments provide an endless stream of material.
What are the real risks?
- Unsuitable content can appear unexpectedly. A useful search can lead into mature, disturbing or hostile posts and communities.
- Pseudonymous is not anonymous. A history of small details can reveal a school, location, routine, or identity.
- Private contact can create pressure. Chat requests may be used to push a teen towards sharing personal details or moving to another app. Teen chat defaults are restrictive, but an older teen may be able to change some social settings. [2]
- Unsafe advice can appear credible. Community posts may normalise self-harm or present misleading health and safety claims as personal experience.
- Age assurance may request personal data. Depending on region and device, Reddit may ask for a date of birth or another available verification method. [3]
Settings to check
Under-18 accounts have mature content blocked, personalised advertising disabled, and Chat, Followers, and Profile discoverability at their most private defaults. Some social settings are locked for younger teens. A parent-approval flow for changing certain settings in the Reddit iOS app is labelled “coming soon”, so it cannot be relied on yet. [2]
- Confirm the account age is accurate: Open Settings → Account settings and follow any age-assurance prompt shown by Reddit. [3]
- Review mature-content protection: Open Settings → Preferences or Feed settings, and confirm mature (18+) content remains off for anyone under 18. [2]
- Review chat and follower choices: Open Settings → Privacy, and choose who can send requests or follow the account. Younger-teen settings may be locked. [2]
- Reduce discoverability: Open Settings → Privacy, and keep profile-discovery options at the most private level that suits the account. [2]
- Block or report a harmful interaction: Open the post, comment, chat, or profile menu and choose Block or Report. [2]
- Leave unsafe communities: Use the community controls to leave, and mute the community if it keeps appearing.
How to talk about it
“Which communities feel useful or welcoming to you, and how can you tell?”
“What details across several posts could identify someone even if they never use a real name?”
“What would help you bring up a chat or community that started to feel uncomfortable?”
Last reviewed: September 2026