X (Twitter)
What is X?
X, formerly Twitter, is a social platform for public posts, images and video, live audio Spaces, communities, and direct messages. Public discussions often develop in real time around news, sport, entertainment, and creators.
Age limit: X’s current terms require every user to be at least 13. They do not set a general 16-year minimum for the EU or UK. [1]
X also includes the Grok AI assistant. Grok can search public X posts and the web to answer questions inside the app. [4]
Why do kids like it?
- Events unfold live. Reactions to matches, releases, news, and online culture appear quickly.
- Creators feel close. A teen can follow artists, players, commentators, and fan communities directly.
- Memes and conversations travel fast. Reposts and replies make it easy to join a shared moment.
- Grok answers inside the app. AI search and chat can feel like a shortcut to explanations or current information.
What are the real risks?
- Public activity can attract unwanted attention. Posts, replies, likes, and profile details are visible to anyone, so a child can draw hostile replies from accounts they have never interacted with.
- Direct messages move a conversation out of public view. Message requests can arrive from accounts a child does not know, and once a conversation moves into direct messages it continues without the visibility of a public reply thread. [2]
- Grok can return inaccurate information. An answer may be incomplete, misleading, or wrong even when it sounds confident. [4]
- Grok interactions can add to data use. Public X data and a person’s Grok inputs and results may be shared with xAI for training or personalisation when the relevant controls permit it. [4]
- X Premium creates recurring costs. Subscription charges can continue until the plan is cancelled under the applicable store or payment terms.
Settings to check
Menu wording differs by device and app version, so use the labels visible in the current app rather than treating a path as permanent.
- Protect posts: Open Settings and privacy → Privacy and safety → Audience, media and tagging → Protect your posts. New followers then need approval; review existing followers separately. [2]
- Review message requests: Open Settings and privacy → Privacy and safety → Direct Messages, and choose who may send requests. [2]
- Keep sensitive-media warnings: Open Settings and privacy → Privacy and safety → Content you see, and keep warning or display choices appropriate for the child’s age. Warnings are on by default. [2]
- Limit discoverability: Open Settings and privacy → Privacy and safety → Discoverability and contacts, and review email, phone, and address-book options. [2]
- Review Grok data controls: Open Settings and privacy → Privacy and safety → Data sharing and personalisation → Grok & Third-party Collaborators, and review training and personalisation choices. [4]
- Secure the account: Open Settings and privacy → Security and account access → Security → Two-factor authentication, and choose an available method. [3]
- Report or block harmful activity: Open the post or account menu and choose Report or Block. Reporting routes cover abuse, sensitive media, impersonation, and spam. [2]
How to talk about it
“What makes an account or a thread feel reliable to you?”
“How do you decide whether a public reply is worth joining?”
“What kinds of questions would be safe to ask an AI in a social app, and what would you keep private?”
Last reviewed: September 2026