What is Wattpad? This question is becoming more and more common among parents. Especially with the rising popularity of this platform among teenagers and young people.
Wattpad enables users to read, write, and share stories. But, being an app that is open for everyone, issues arise regarding the type of content it offers and users’ safety.
This article takes a look at what you need to know about Wattpad. Evaluate all the dangers and opportunities that your child might get from using the app.
What is Wattpad mainly used for?
Wattpad is a social story-telling platform that presents space for people to read, write, and share different stories across various categories.
The website was started as a platform for reading e-books in 2006 in Toronto, Canada. In the beginning, Wattpad’s appeal was to those who loved fanfiction and niche genres that might not be as easily accessible in traditional publishing.
Over time, it evolved into a community-driven platform where anyone could publish their work. It connects writers, both budding and professional, to millions of readers. Wattpad became a key player in the evolution of digital storytelling and self-publishing. Notably, many of the stories from this platform have been published as books, movies, and TV series.
The platform had mobile apps in 2010. Now, Wattpad is available on web browsers, both iOS and Android, Kindle, and other e-readers, which makes it accessible to a global audience.
Features for writers and readers
Some of the features that make Wattpad a unique platform for both readers and writers include the following:
For readers
- Access to a vast library: Readers can choose from millions of free stories from different categories like romance, fantasy, science fiction, and fanfiction.
- Interactive reading: It allows users to post comments on paragraphs, to vote for their favorite chapters and to communicate with the authors and other users.
- Personalized experience: This includes the ability to build libraries and create lists of the books one wants to read and the authors to follow. You will also get notifications when the post has updates.
For writers
- Publishing original content: Self-publishing allows writers to upload and share their own stories.
- Engagement tools: It is also possible to get instant feedback from other users in the form of comments and votes, making the site more of a community.
- Monetization: It has features such as “Wattpad Stars” and “Writer Subscriptions” that enable writers to make money. More publishers, movie studios, and other media outlets are discovering the platform’s paid content options.
- Wattpad books: The platform also has a publishing arm, working with major publishers like HarperCollins to publish stories from the platform in traditional print form.
Due to the social aspect and its functionality, Wattpad is an ideal platform for writers and readers interested in literature.
Empower your teen to read, write, and stay safe on Wattpad!
What is the average age of Wattpad users?
Most users on Wattpad are young people within the age bracket of 13-35 years of age. Research indicates that about 80% of Wattpad’s audience is composed of Gen Z and Millennials.
There are several reasons why teens and young adults love Wattpad so much.
- Rise of digital storytelling – The use of smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets makes young people prefer digital story resources over printed books.
- Fanfiction culture – An interesting feature is the provision of fanfiction, where users build stories out of books, movies, series, and famous personalities.
- Aspiring writers & Self-publishing – This can be considered a platform for young authors who want to make the transition towards professional writing.
The platform is built around the idea of interactive and social storytelling, which makes it interesting for young people to interact with the stories and their authors.
What is Wattpad known for?
Wattpad is known for hosting an extensive library of diverse stories and writers focusing on romance, fantasy, thriller, science fiction, and other genres. One of its biggest attractions for users alike is fanfiction.
Fanfiction or fanfic is an area of writing where the author composes a story based on a show, book, movie, or celebrity. For instance, thousands of fanfiction on Wattpad are based on Harry Potter, K-pop idols, and the superhero universe.
Aside from fanfiction, Wattpad has also contributed to the production of bestselling books and movies. Including After by Anna Todd, a One Direction fanfiction which later became a movie.
With its focus on self-publishing, interactive features, and elements of pop culture. Wattpad has become one of the leaders of new-age digital literature.
How to use the Wattpad app?
For newcomers to Wattpad, it is very simple to get started. Here are some basic steps to follow:
- Download and install the app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Launch it and log in by using your email, Google or Facebook account.
- Set up your profile: username, profile picture, and bio to help everyone in the Wattpad community know you better.
- Choose what authors or types of books you like to be updated with. Then, you can start exploring. To find certain books, search for the book title or an author in the search bar.
- Organize the online books in the library to make it more accessible.
- Download stories for offline reading (this feature is applicable to Wattpad Premium only).
Writing & publishing your own story
- Go to your profile and click the ‘Create’ button.
- Insert the title of the story, the cover page picture, and a brief blurb about the story.
- You can now start writing your story and format chapters with the help of the built-in editor.
- To submit your work for others to read, click on the “Publish” button which is located at the top of the page.
With these steps, you will be able to get yourself acquainted with Wattpad’s world of stories and creativity.
Is Wattpad free or paid?
Wattpad offers two modes: a free basic option and a paid subscription service called Wattpad Premium (with an enhanced version, Wattpad Premium+).
The free version has some restrictions. It comes with ads, and access to some content is normally limited.
The following are some key paid features of Wattpad Premium:
- Ad-free reading.
- Unlimited offline stories.
- Bonus Coins for unlocking Wattpad Originals (paid stories).
With Wattpad Premium+, an upgraded paid version, it comes with even more advantages, including:
- More Wattpad Originals – Get two more stories from Wattpad Originals each month (in addition to the five Premium Picks).
- More Bonus Coins – Get 200 Bonus Coins every month to unlock parts or full stories. This will be recharged every 30 days from the subscription date.
The subscription fees for Wattpad Premium and Wattpad Premium+ differ based on your country of residence and your device. In most cases, Wattpad operates on a monthly or yearly subscription basis. Here is the breakdown according to the latest updates on the US pricing.
Wattpad Premium:
- Monthly. $4.99/month
- Annual. $59.99/year
Wattpad Premium+:
- Monthly. $7.49/month
- Annual. $89.99/year
New users also get to enjoy 7-day free trial for Wattpad Premium and Wattpad Premium+ on their iOS devices. While the free version is enough for most users, Wattpad Premium is perfect for dedicated readers who want the best experience.
Is Wattpad safe for kids?
Wattpad is an entertaining and effective platform. However, its safety for kids is relative and depends on its usage and supervision.
Technically, to open an account and share stories on Wattpad. One has to be at least 13 years old, given that Wattpad follows COPPA standards.
Reporting is mainly done through self-declaration during registration. As such, younger children can easily sign up for an account. Since the platform offers a wide variety of stories, it indeed contains material that is not appropriate for minors.
Below are some of the features that Wattpad has in place to ensure that its users are safe.
- Mature content filter. This option can be turned on to prevent the viewing of stories that have been rated as mature.
- Private accounts. It is possible to make content on the stories personal and permit only some people to have access to them.
- Block and report features. Users are also allowed to block people or report any content, comment, or account that is obscene or violates the rules.
However, one noticeable drawback is that the site does not have inherent control mechanisms that can limit the material a child might access. It is recommended that parents talk about and use external parental control to regulate their children’s activities on the platform.
Does Wattpad allow NSFW content?
Yes, this platform does allow mature content, including NSFW or adult stories. However, this has to be in accordance with the application’s content guidelines.
Such stories are tagged with a “Mature” label to allow the readers to know that the content they are about to read is not child-friendly.
Given that Wattpad has a moderation system that depends on users’ self-reporting, some obscene materials may end up not being labeled.
What age is Wattpad appropriate for?
Wattpad has an official age requirement of 13+. But the content featured on the platform is not necessarily appropriate for all ages. Some stories are deemed adult content. Such content for underage children is harmful in various ways, including causing confusion or even mental health complications.
How to keep teens safe on Wattpad?
Parental guidance, education, and monitoring are important aspects that need to be put in place to ensure that teens are safe on Wattpad. Here are several of the actionable tips for parents.
Educate about online safety
- Discuss potential dangers. Discuss with your teen about the possible dangers of the Internet, like exposure to controversial material, harassment, or communication with strangers.
- Teach responsible behavior. Teach your teenager how to conduct himself/herself appropriately on such a platform. Let them know how to report an unsuitable post or message and when not to respond.
Encourage open communication
- Engage in conversations. It is important for parents to engage their teens in conversations about what they are viewing or posting on Wattpad. It fosters confidence and makes them seek your assistance whenever they face any difficulty.
- Set ground rules. Set specific guidelines on acceptable behaviors in cyberspace. For instance, avoid sharing personal details or engaging in vulgar conversations.
Use parental control tools
Parental controls may help limit the amount of time your teen spends on certain apps or restrict specific content. One such reliable parental control app is FlashGet Kids. It can help parents track their child’s device usage and always know what they are doing on the phone.
The following features are useful for all parents.
- Screen Mirroring. It allows you to monitor your teen’s online activities in real-time, identifying what your teen is reading or writing.
- App Notifications. Notify you when there are new activities on their phones and various social apps, such as comments or messages, so that you are aware of what they are participating in.
- Screen Time. With this feature, you can track how much time they spend on apps like Wattpad and set a time limit for daily or weekly usage.
- App Blocker. It allows you to block specific apps at certain areas or times, such as school or bedtime.
Using such tools as FlashGet Kids can be of great help to you. It is important to check up on your teen and have a genuine conversation with them to make sure they are doing well.
Takeaways
More similar sites like Wattpad promote a new type of literature, which also gave rise to the “reading experience” where users become part of the process of writing, commenting, and influencing the direction of a story. If you’re considering whether Wattpad is suitable for your child, it’s important to explore the app yourself to understand its content and features. There is user-generated content, which means some stories might not always be age-appropriate. In this way, parents can guide their children on how to maximize the use of the online reading and platform while avoiding its negative impacts to ensure a worthwhile experience.
FAQs
Technically, no. It states that its users must be over 13 years old. Some content in the application is rather adult-oriented and has social aspects that are not suitable for kids under thirteen years old.
Yes, Wattpad does have a lot of mature content, ranging from sexual content to violence and other adult content. Despite the use of content warnings, they are not always effective since authors can opt-out. The warnings are also not always accurate; hence, such content can still be viewed by young people.
Turkey blocked Wattpad, citing that the website contained immoral content that was unfit for young people. The government mentioned such threats as the promotion of pornography, lack of control over traffic and contacts, and impossibility of applying age restrictions as the main reasons for the block.
