Kids these days get bored pretty quickly from games and entertainment platforms like YouTube. It’s common for them to try out new apps like Wattpad to spark their creativity. However, as a parent, I do get concerned about all the apps they will find on the Play Store or the App Store. I mean, there are just too many mature apps and an abundance of adult content. It can be a serious challenge to stay ahead of any risky situation when I don’t even know what half of these apps offer. So, if you’re in a similar boat and your kid is getting curious about new social or entertainment apps, let’s cover a few basics.
Why is it essential to be aware of apps like Wattpad?
Apps like Wattpad always look all innocent and child-friendly on the surface, but these apps don’t have any content filtering. You can’t let your child browse around any platform where people can share anything unrestricted. I’ve seen a lot of people sharing explicit stories on apps like Wattpad. Even though these apps have an age gate of 13 and above, the content on these platforms is mostly for mature audiences. So, if your child loves to write or share stories, don’t ever let them on Wattpad. Otherwise, you’ll only ruin their innocence and creative prowess.
What’s the Wattpad?
Wattpad is an online platform where readers and writers can share stories and feedback on different content. It is one of the most popular platforms because of its massive range of genres and fanfiction content. However, the most exciting thing about Wattpad is its community feature. When experimenting with different genres and writing styles, writers can establish a quick feedback cycle from their community. Moreover, Wattpad has an abundance of young audiences. So, if you’re an adult looking to improve your writing and storytelling skills, Wattpad would be a good place to start.
What is Wattpad age limit?
The age limit maintained by Wattpad is 13 years old. If your child is below 13, they should not be allowed on this platform to read or write any content. However, many people (including myself) have raised concerns about this age limit. The majority of fanfiction content on Wattpad is only for mature audiences, containing explicit details about perverse sex. Even if your child is 15 or 16, you would want them to stay away from such content. So, I’d suggest that you don’t let your child use Wattpad until they are above 18.
Why do schools block Wattpad?
People often think that schools block Wattpad because it is distracting and pulls focus away from studies. However, that is not the primary reason. Schools block Wattpad because of its user-generated content and abundance of mature content. So, it might be wise to keep your child away from Wattpad even when they are at home.
Best apps like Wattpad in 2024
Wattpad isn’t the only platform where your child can access stories or writers. Here are some of the best apps, like Wattpad, that offer a similar value to readers in 2024.
1. Webtoon (4.7 ✯)
Webtoon is one of the most famous platforms for manga readers. It has hundreds of millions of active users, and you’ll find a diverse range of genres on this platform. Even though there is some questionable content on Webtoon, it is generally safe for kids 13 and above. So, if your kid is 13, you can consider making them a child account on this app.
- It is available for both Android and iOS devices.
2. Scary Chat Stories (4.6 ✯)
The Scary Chat Stories app features a cool concept where you can go through a ton of short horror stories. These stories are in the form of text messages and offer users an immersive reading experience. It is a free app that is suitable for young teenagers who get bored quickly. Moreover, you won’t have to worry as much about explicit details when your child is enjoying their time in the Scary Chat Stories app.
- It works on both Android and iOS devices.
3. Penana (3.7 ✯)
Penana is another app like Wattpad, but the interface and the audience on this app aren’t that extensive. There are only a limited number of authors, and the reading experience is subpar, to say the least. Moreover, the content regulation on Penana is just as bad as that on Wattpad. So, your child should be kept away from the content that is freely available here.
- You can find it both on Android devices and iOS devices.
4. Movellas (3 ✯)
The Movellas community is pretty substantial, and you’ll find thousands of stories on his platform. However, if you’re interested in writing content and sharing it with an audience, this app doesn’t hit the spot. It is terrible in terms of content creation, and you can only ever use this app to consume content. So, have that in mind if you’re looking for an app to share your personal writing.
- This app is only available for Android devices on the Play Store.
5. Inkitt (4.5 ✯)
As far as the reading experience and accessibility to content are concerned, Inkitt is one of my favorite apps. You can customize the reading experience as you like, and it also offers offline reading features. Moreover, you can get hundreds of thousands of novels on this application. Aside from a few minor glitches, I can say nothing bad about Inkitt.
- You can find Inkitt for iOS and Android devices.
6. Readict (4.7 ✯)
The Readict app primarily targets people who like to binge novels and romantic stories. However, this app is only for mature audiences. Unlike some of the other apps listed above, you need to be above 17 to enjoy your time on Readict. As long as you’re above the age limit, I can guarantee that this app will satisfy your reading needs.
- Readict is available for iOS and Android devices.
7. NovelToon (4.2 ✯)
NovelToon is a supermassive platform with tens of millions of users. It targets audiences aged 12 and above. There are a ton of stories and fanfiction content on this app. Moreover, you can interact with others to discuss the plot of anything you’re reading. Still, make sure not to let your kid spend too much time on this app. They might interact with older creeps who can exploit or bully your child.
- It is available for iOS and Android devices.
8. MangaToon (4.2 ✯)
The user base on MangaToon also matches NovelToon, and there are millions of active readers on this application. The great thing about this reader app is that you’ll be able to customize the reading experience. Moreover, it offers a ton of interesting romance manga to the users. Still, it is rated “T” for teens, and I’d suggest that you don’t let your kid on this app until they are at least 16.
- It is available on all platforms (iOS and Android).
5 tips to improve the security of social apps like Wattpad?
Letting your kid download any app they like (whether it is a social app or an entertainment app) can be disastrous for their growth. I mean, Google doesn’t check the content within each app or verify the content filtering ability of any platform. So, the responsibility falls upon you as a parent to prepare your kid beforehand. Otherwise, they will find themselves addicted to mature content or even get exploited by predators online. Here are some tips to help you with your kid’s safety.
- Have a conversation with your child and educate them about the dangers lurking on these online platforms. No monitoring or restriction method is 100 percent fool-proof, and you’ll need your child’s cooperation when keeping them safe.
- Limit the time your child spends on their devices. Ideally, letting your kid’s mobile usage less than 3 hours daily is enough.
- Use parental control tools to monitor your child and get alerts when they start getting curious about mature content. You can also ground them and further cut down the time they can spend on their phone.
- Set up privacy controls and sharing restrictions on any and every application where your child can interact with strangers.
- Get your kid excited about real-life activities and make them more engaged in sports. Your child will have much less time for social or entertainment apps that way, and they won’t browse around the Play Store looking for more stuff.
[Tutorial] How do we keep kids digitally safe in apps like Wattpad?
You can use paternal control tools like FlashGet Kids to keep kids digitally safe in apps like Wattpad. This tool is fairly new, and you can get it for under five dollars a month in the yearly package. Moreover, setting up FlashGet Kids to monitor your child’s phone is also fairly simple. Here are the steps you need to get started with FlashGet Kids.
- Download FlashGet Kids on your phone from the Play Store or the App Store.
- Install it on your phone and create an account on it.
- Get your kid’s Android and download FlashGet Kids (kids’ version).
- Pair the kids app with the parent app by following the in-app instructions.
- You can use live monitoring features like screen mirroring.
- Use the app blocker to restrict their time on particular apps.
- Use the “forbid new apps” feature to limit them from downloading new apps.
You can also access a ton of tracking features like location tracking and geofencing within this parental control application. So, if you’re looking for something to keep your family safe, FlashGet Kids is a good starting point.
Conclusion
Apps like Wattpad are great if you’re an adult and want to read through explicit content from other users. However, these can be traumatizing if your child starts spending their day on them. So, I’d suggest that you test out parental control tools and forbid your child from downloading such apps. Otherwise, they can easily get addicted to mature content or get targeted by pedophiles lurking on these platforms.
