Lifestyle
Is Wattpad safe? A Wattpad App Review for Parents
Overview
Wattpad is a social storytelling platform where users can post their original stories and read the works of others. More than 90 million people use Wattpad every month, and 90% of its users are between the ages of 13 and 35, the majority of whom are female.
For readers, there are stories available for any taste and in any genre. Many users browse by categories like Fan Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal, Werewolf, and LGBTQ+. For writers, Wattpad adds an air of legitimacy to the writing process, enabling the uploading of creative content in a stylish format so that others can find it easily. But there’s more to Wattpad than just creative stories — read on for all the dangers this platform presents.
Harmful Content 😲
Mature material
One of the most popular genres on Wattpad is romance, which often leads to a rating of “Mature” on the site. Stories tagged as Mature can include:
- Explicit sex scenes
- Self-harm themes or scenes (including suicide and eating disorders)
- Graphic depictions of violence; including but not limited to: sexual, verbal, emotional, and physical abuse
Unfortunately, despite this rating system, content on Wattpad isn’t age-gated, which means kids of all ages can read these stories. According to Wattpad’s terms of service, users have to be 13 years old to create an account. However, there’s nothing stopping a child from just browsing while not logged in and reading mature content.
Illegal activity
Another danger is the depiction of predatory or incestuous relationships, including daddy/daughter, student/teacher, or daddy/son situations. These stories can make kids think these types of relationships are OK, when in actuality they’re illegal and highly dangerous.
Predation 🚨
Wattpad is a social media platform, so there’s always the chance that adult strangers could open lines of communication with kids — both in DMs and in story comments. Because Wattpad is about showcasing your writing skills, predators often use flattery and compliments as a way into kids’ lives, making them feel special while putting them at ease.
Positive Value 💙
One great thing about Wattpad is that it gets users excited about writing and publishing their original material. Some users have even had their stories optioned by major studios and publishers, bringing wealth and fame.
Privacy 🔒
Privacy can be a concern if your child is publishing stories under their real name, especially if they’re writing about potentially contentious topics.
Parental Controls ✅
You can mute users, but there are no real parental controls for Wattpad. Fortunately, Bark can help you keep your kid safe by allowing you to:
- Block Wattpad entirely, if needed.
- Manage when your child can use Wattpad throughout the day.
So, should my kid download it?
Probably not until they’re mature enough to handle it. While encouraging your child to write is a great way to stoke the fires of their imagination, there is a ton of inappropriate content on Wattpad. Even though Wattpad says it’s for ages 13 and up, we think it’s more in line with 16 and older.
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