Reddit's age requirement is 13: no one under 13 is allowed to use it, and you also have to be over the minimum age set by the laws of your country. Some parts of Reddit need you to be older, and you must be at least 18 to view mature content.
Reddit's age rules live in its user agreement, and they're short. Here's what they say and what they mean in practice for teens and parents.
The minimum age
Reddit's user agreement says no one under 13 is allowed to use or access its services. By using Reddit, you confirm you're at least 13 and over the minimum age required by the laws of your country of residence. So, like most apps, 13 is the floor, and the real number can be higher depending on where you live.
The age rules at a glance
| Age | What the user agreement says |
|---|---|
| Under 13 | Not allowed to use or access Reddit |
| 13 and over, under your country's minimum | Not allowed in that country |
| Over 13, under the age of majority | Allowed if a legal guardian has reviewed and agrees to the terms |
| 18 and over | Can view mature content |
The guardian rule for teens
Here's the line most people don't notice. Reddit says you must be able to form a binding contract with it, or, if you're over 13 but under the age of majority where you live, your legal guardian has reviewed and agrees to its terms. So a teen on Reddit is supposed to have a parent or guardian who's read and accepted the user agreement on their behalf.
Mature content is 18 and over
Reddit says parts of its services require you to be older than 13, and gives the clearest example itself: you must be at least 18 to view mature content. If a teen account runs into a wall trying to open a community, that's usually why. It's not a glitch, and changing the birthday to get around it breaks the rule it's built on.
For parents: a quick checklist
- Check the minimum age for your country; it may be above 13.
- Read the user agreement with your teen, since Reddit expects a guardian to review and agree to it for under-age-of-majority users.
- Talk about which communities they join and how to leave ones that aren't for them.
- Make sure they know how to keep mature content switched off and how to report anything that worries them.
Additional terms for some features
Reddit's user agreement also asks you to read all notices and any Additional Terms when you use particular parts of its services. Some features come with their own conditions on top of the main agreement, so the age rules above are the minimum rather than the full list. If a feature asks you to accept extra terms, a teen should check with the guardian who agreed to the main ones.
Why this matters more here
Reddit is built around communities that anyone can join and post in, with usernames rather than real names. That's a big part of its appeal, but it also means teens can end up in conversations with adults they don't know about topics that aren't aimed at them. The 18 rule for mature content is the main built-in guard, so it's worth making sure it stays on and that a teen knows what it's there for.
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My verdict
Thirteen is the minimum, but Reddit's terms quietly expect a guardian to be involved until adulthood. If you're a parent, take that as your cue to read the terms together and agree the ground rules. For the settings side, here's how to turn NSFW content on or off on Reddit, and how to clear your Reddit history if you want to tidy an account.
Frequently asked questions
Can a child under 13 use Reddit?
No. Reddit's user agreement says no one under 13 is allowed to use or access its services.
How old do you have to be to see NSFW on Reddit?
At least 18. Reddit says you must be at least 18 years old to view mature content.
Do teens need parental permission for Reddit?
Reddit's terms say that if you're over 13 but under the age of majority where you live, your legal guardian has reviewed and agrees to the terms.
Is the Reddit age requirement the same everywhere?
No. You must be at least 13 and over the minimum age required by the laws of your country of residence.
