Is Rec Room safe for kids?
Worth watching
Strong automatic protections for under-13s — the real setup work starts when they turn 13 and social features switch on.
How that verdict changes by age
Not recommended · Below the app's own minimum age (13+)
Handle with care
· Below the app's own minimum age (13+)
· Right at the app's minimum age (13+)
· Strangers can reach them unless privacy is locked down
| Minimum age | 13 |
|---|---|
| Strangers can contact | with settings |
| Location sharing | No |
| Disappearing messages | Not verified |
| Parental visibility | Limited |
What to do
For under-13: create the account with your child's real birthdate and verify Junior Mode is active before the first session. For 13+: open Experience settings and set direct messages to Favorites only or Off.
Check Rec Room against your kid’s other appsTakes about a minute →
What it actually is
Rec Room is a social gaming and virtual-world platform for iOS, Android, PC, and VR headsets where players create avatars and join user-built game rooms. Accounts for users under 13 automatically enter Junior Mode: voice chat disabled, display names randomized, and direct messaging restricted. For 13+ accounts, the risk profile resembles Discord — open rooms, direct messages, and user-generated content — with DM settings that control who can reach your child.
Set up a Junior account (under-13)
- When creating the account, enter your child's actual birthdate — Rec Room places any under-13 account in Junior Mode automatically
- After account creation, Rec Room will ask for your email address and have you set the password for your child's account
- In-game: verify the display name is randomized (not the name your child chose) and that the microphone option is unavailable — both confirm Junior Mode is active
- If the account was created with the wrong birthdate, contact Rec Room support to restore Junior Mode
Adjust direct message settings (accounts 13+)
- Open the Experience settings page (accessible from the wrist menu in VR, or from account settings on mobile)
- Find the direct message preference and choose Favorites only or Off entirely — the default allows all friends to message
- The same setting controls who can add your teen to new group chats
- Room-level chat and party chat are not affected by this setting
Understand room access
- Every room is rated either All Ages or Age 13+ — Junior accounts cannot enter 13+ rooms
- Rooms open to junior players are tagged #junior in the room listing
- For 13+ accounts, check which rooms your teen has joined by reviewing their profile
Next: check Rec Room against your kid's other apps →
Other apps to know about
YouTube
Worth watchingThe recommended videos are the problem — the algorithm will walk your child somewhere you didn't intend.
Roblox
Worth watchingMost of the games are fine — the chat and social features are where kids get into trouble.
Pokémon GO
Worth watchingLocation-based game that gets kids outdoors; watch for in-app purchases and stranger contact.
Updated October 2026
Spot something wrong? Submit a correction →