Tue · 16 Jun 2026
>therundown.today
→ Get the weekly rundown · free
App profile

X

High risk

Rated High · How we rate

Powerful social platform with adult-focused content; not appropriate for young teens without active parental oversight.

Ages 13–15Ages 16+
Minimum age13
Strangers can contactYes
Location sharingNo
Disappearing messagesNo
Parental visibilityLimited
What it actually is

X (formerly Twitter) is a real-time social platform where users post, share, and discuss news, culture, and current events. It combines public conversations, direct messaging, live video streaming, and an AI assistant called Grok. In 2026, X spun off XChat, a standalone end-to-end-encrypted messenger tied to X accounts. The app exposes users to largely unfiltered content from millions of voices globally, and many of its trust-and-safety features have been pared back since 2022.

Privacy: Control who can message you directly (Everyone, Followers Only, or No One). • Safety: Enable "Quality Filter" to reduce low-quality/abusive replies and "Muted Words" to hide posts containing specific terms. • Algorithmic Feed: Switch from algorithmic "Home" feed to "Following" to see only posts from accounts your teen follows. • Block & Report: Use block and report tools liberally for harassment or inappropriate content. • Notifications: Limit notifications to specific accounts or keywords to reduce constant alerts. • Age & Account: Ensure the account is set to the correct birthdate; X's enforcement of age restrictions is inconsistent.

→ Check your kid's other apps

Other apps to know about

Updated June 2026

Spot something wrong? Submit a correction →