Is LINE safe for kids?

Worth watching

A messaging app whose 'find by ID, QR, or shake' features let strangers add your kid as a contact unless they're switched off.

How we rate →

How that verdict changes by age

Not recommended · Below the app's own minimum age (13+)
- Is LINE safe for a 6–9-year-old?
Handle with care · Below the app's own minimum age (13+)
- Is LINE safe for a 10–12-year-old?
Handle with care · Right at the app's minimum age (13+)
- Is LINE safe for a 13–15-year-old?
Handle with care · Only limited parental controls
- Is LINE safe for a 16+-year-old?

Quick facts
Minimum age	13
Strangers can contact	No
Location sharing	No
Disappearing messages	Not verified
Parental visibility	Limited

What to do

Not recommended for under 13. For 13–15, monitor contacts and privacy settings carefully. Fine for 16+, though parents should confirm the child understands the app's contact and sharing features.

Check LINE against your kid’s other appsTakes about a minute →

What it actually is

LINE is a major messaging app (huge in Japan and Southeast Asia) with chats, calls, a Snapchat-style timeline, and games. The contact risk is concrete: ID search, QR codes, and 'shake to add nearby' let strangers find and add your child unless those discovery features are disabled. It also carries in-app purchases and a content feed that isn't age-filtered.

Privacy & Safety

Open Settings > Privacy and confirm who can contact you and add you as a friend
Enable "Letter Sealing" for encrypted messages (Settings > Privacy > Letter Sealing)
Review and manage your friend list regularly
Be cautious with location sharing; disable unless necessary
Turn off the "Home" feed or review it periodically to control what content you see

Contact Control

Adjust "Add me as friend" settings to "By ID search only" or "Friends of friends" to limit stranger contact
Disable or monitor "LINE VOOM" if available in your region to limit exposure to algorithmic content feeds

Next: check LINE against your kid's other apps →