Xbox
What is Xbox?
Xbox is Microsoft’s console and gaming platform. Depending on the game, subscription and account settings, it can include online multiplayer, Game Pass, friends, messaging, voice chat, streaming and game-clip sharing. The Xbox Family Settings app can manage child accounts, screen time, content, communication, multiplayer, clubs, cross-network play and friend requests. [1]
Age limit: Xbox uses 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 Australia, France and Germany. Ratings and descriptors vary by game and country. [5]
Why do kids like it?
- Playing with friends. Online multiplayer makes it easy to play together, even when they’re not in the same place.
- Game subscriptions. Game Pass plans provide access to a changing library of games.
- Social features. Friends lists, messaging, voice chat and the ability to share game clips make it a social experience.
- Achievements. Children enjoy collecting achievements and comparing with friends.
What are the real risks?
- Communication with unknown players. Multiplayer, clubs, cross-network play and game chat can connect a child with people they do not know. [1]
- Personal information in profiles and captures. Online presence, game history and shared clips can reveal a gamertag, voice or background sounds, depending on privacy and sharing choices.
- In-game purchases. Microtransactions are common in many games, and costs can add up quickly if spending limits aren’t set.
- Games can include mature content. Titles with older age ratings may contain violence, sexual themes, strong language, gambling-like mechanics, or other material intended for older players.
- Game-specific chat can expose a child to additional contact. Some publishers use separate accounts and communication systems, so a child may receive messages through the game as well as Xbox.
Settings to check
- Create the family group: Add the child’s Microsoft account to your family, using their correct date of birth, then open the Xbox Family Settings app and select their profile. [1]
- Set content limits: Open Xbox Family Settings → select the child → Content restrictions, choose the age rating that fits your family, and review requested exceptions for blocked games. [1]
- Limit communication and multiplayer: Open Xbox Family Settings → select the child → Communication or Multiplayer, then review voice, text, clubs, friend requests and cross-network play. Choose the most suitable audience shown in the app; labels and available choices can vary. [1]
- Review privacy and sharing: Open Settings → Account → Family settings → Manage family members → select the child → Privacy & online safety on Xbox. Check who can see profile details, online status, game history and captures.
- Require purchase approval: Open Settings → Account → Family settings → Manage family members → select the child → Privacy & online safety → Xbox privacy → View details & customize → Buy & download → Ask a parent on the console. This applies to Microsoft Store purchases on Xbox; check publisher and platform stores separately. [3]
- Set screen time: Open Xbox Family Settings → select the child → Screen time, and set a schedule. [1]
- Practise mute, block and report: Open a player’s profile or the People list and use the available Mute or Block option. Use the profile’s Report option to report a specific player or incident. Blocking prevents messages and invites and hides your online activity from that person. [2] [4]
How to talk about it
“Who do you play with most often on Xbox, and how do you know them?”
“What do you do if someone says something uncomfortable in chat or voice chat?”
“When might a screen-time exception make sense, and how could it work?”
Last reviewed: September 2026