Kid-Friendly Social Networking Options for Children Under 13

Kids want to connect with friends long before they turn 13, and many ask for Instagram, TikTok or Snapchat years before those apps allow them. The minimum age on most major platforms is 13, largely because of the US Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which limits how companies collect personal information from younger children without parental consent.

That leaves parents of 8- to 12-year-olds looking for something in between. A handful of apps are designed for that age, and some everyday tools can be set up to work the same way. Here is what is available in 2026 and how to choose.

What happened to the old kids' networks

If you remember kids' social worlds from a decade ago, many are gone:

• Club Penguin, Disney's virtual world with chat, closed in March 2017. Its mobile successor, Club Penguin Island, also shut down.
• Moshi Monsters, the monster-adopting world popular in the early 2010s, no longer runs in its original form. Our Moshi Monsters article explains what happened.
• Musical.ly, popular with tweens, was merged into TikTok in 2018. Its users were moved over to the TikTok app.

The lesson for parents: kids' apps come and go quickly, so the habits you teach matter more than any single platform.

Options designed for younger kids

Messenger Kids

Meta's Messenger Kids is a video calling and messaging app for children, generally aimed at ages 6 to 12. A parent sets it up from their own Facebook account, and the child does not need a Facebook account.

• Parents approve contacts through a Parent Dashboard.
• Parents can see recent contacts and chat history, set "sleep mode" hours and see when their child blocks or reports someone.
• There are no ads, and kids cannot be found by strangers through search.

It works best for keeping in touch with family members and a small group of known friends.

Zigazoo Kids

Zigazoo is a short-video app built around prompts and challenges, such as science experiments, dance moves or show-and-tell. It is moderated, and it does not let kids send direct messages. Kids respond to prompts with videos rather than open-ended posting. Common Sense Media notes the app has in-app currency for purchase, so check purchase settings on your child's device.

YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids is not a social network, since kids cannot post or comment, but it is often the first platform children use on their own. Parents can choose content settings by age or approve specific channels and videos. Our YouTube Kids app review covers the settings in detail.

Everyday tools set up for kids

Many families skip special apps and use the messaging tools already on a child's device, with parental controls.

Our article on how to restrict iMessage walks through Apple's settings.

Games with social features

For many kids, games are their first social network. Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnite all include chat or voice features and friend lists. These are not kids-only spaces, and each has its own parental controls for chat, spending and who can send friend requests. Set those controls before your child starts playing, and review them as your child gets older.

How to choose a first social app

Ask these questions before saying yes to any app:

1. Who can contact my child? The best options require parent approval for every contact.
2. Is it moderated? Look for human or automated moderation and easy reporting.
3. Can I see activity? A parent dashboard or shared device makes it easier to stay involved.
4. Are there ads or purchases? In-app currency and ads can be a source of pressure.
5. What happens to my child's data? Look for apps that state they comply with COPPA.
6. Does it match my child's maturity? An app built for ages 6 to 12 may feel babyish to an 11-year-old, which can push them to look elsewhere.

Getting the habits right early

A kid-friendly app is a good place to practice the skills they will need on bigger platforms:

• Only connect with people you know in real life.
• Never share your address, school or passwords.
• Tell a parent if anyone makes you uncomfortable, and know how to block and report.
• Think before posting a photo or video, even to friends.

Our guide to talking with kids about online safety offers age-appropriate ways to bring these up.

Signs your child is ready for more

At some point, a kids' app will feel too young. Before moving to a mainstream platform, look for signs that your child already handles the basics: they tell you about uncomfortable messages, they follow time limits without constant battles, and they understand that photos can be shared beyond the person they sent them to. If those habits are in place, the jump to a bigger app at 13 is much smoother.

The bottom line

• Most major social apps require users to be 13, mainly because of COPPA.
• Messenger Kids and Zigazoo are designed for younger kids, with parent controls and moderation.
• Phone-level controls can turn ordinary messaging into a contact-approved space.
• Games are social networks too; set chat and friend controls before play begins.
• Use a first app as practice for the habits your child will need later.