You have to be at least 13 to have Pinterest, and older in countries that set a higher minimum age of consent. Pinterest's terms also say that if you're between 13 and 18, you may only use Pinterest with the permission of a parent or legal guardian.
Pinterest's age rule sits in its Terms of Service, and it has one detail many families miss: permission. Being 13 isn't the whole story for teenagers. Here's what the terms say.
The rule in Pinterest's own words
Pinterest's terms are direct: any use of or access to Pinterest by anyone under 13 is not allowed. Above 13, you can use Pinterest if you're over the minimum age of consent in your country. And if you're 13 to 18, you may only use the service with your parent's or legal guardian's permission. The terms ask that the parent or guardian reviews and discusses them with the teen.
The age rule at a glance
| Age | What Pinterest's terms allow |
|---|---|
| Under 13 | Not allowed |
| 13 and over, below your country's age of consent | Not allowed in that country |
| 13 to 18 | Allowed with a parent's or legal guardian's permission |
| Adult | Allowed, under the standard terms |
What Pinterest asks of parents
The terms don't stop at permission. They ask the parent or legal guardian to review and discuss the terms with the teen. That's a sensible prompt even if you'd skip it elsewhere: it's the moment to agree whether the account is for saving ideas privately, or for posting publicly, and who the teen is happy to share boards with. Ten minutes on that up front saves a lot of awkward conversations later.
Why 'older in some countries' matters
Pinterest's summary of its terms says you can't use Pinterest if you're under 13, or older in some countries. It ties the age to the minimum age of consent where you live rather than publishing a single worldwide number above 13. So a teen who would be fine in one country may not be old enough in another. If you're unsure where your country sets that line, check before setting up an account.
The permission part
This is the bit worth reading twice. Many apps let a 13 year old sign up on their own. Pinterest's terms go further and say that from 13 to 18 you may only use Pinterest with a parent's or legal guardian's permission. The terms put it on the teen to have that permission and on the parent to have talked the terms through, so it's worth treating as a real step rather than small print.
Business accounts are a different question
If the question is really about using Pinterest for a business or side project, there's a separate rule. Pinterest's terms say that if you use Pinterest for commercial purposes, you need a business account, and posting commercial or branded content means following its Commercial and Branded Content Guidelines. For a teen with a small craft shop, that's one more thing to set up with a parent.
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Setting up Pinterest for a teen, step by step
- Check your country's minimum age of consent; it may be above 13.
- Read Pinterest's terms together, as the terms ask parents and guardians to do.
- Use the teen's real date of birth when creating the account.
- Agree what they'll save and share, and switch to a business account if they're promoting anything they make.
My verdict
Pinterest is one of the gentler social apps for teens, but its terms are stricter than most on paper: permission is required up to 18. Have the conversation, then set it up together. If it isn't working out, here's how to delete or deactivate a Pinterest account, and for comparison, Instagram handles teens very differently, as this guide to reactivating an Instagram account shows when age checks lock people out.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 13 year old use Pinterest?
Yes, if 13 is at or above the minimum age of consent in their country, and with a parent's or legal guardian's permission, which Pinterest's terms require for 13 to 18 year olds.
Is Pinterest allowed for under 13s?
No. Pinterest's terms say any use or access by anyone under 13 is not allowed.
Do teenagers need permission to use Pinterest?
Under Pinterest's terms, 13 to 18 year olds may only use Pinterest with the permission of a parent or legal guardian.
Do you need a business account to promote things on Pinterest?
Pinterest's terms say you need a business account if you use Pinterest for commercial purposes.
