Are You Still Watching?

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Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Prime video, Apple TV, HBO Max, Peacock, Tubi...There are so many streaming services out there it can be overwhelming to scan them all and make sure your child is watching age-appropriate content. Nowadays, it is so easy for children to be exposed to inappropriate content at a young age. Keeping track of what media your child is consuming can feel like an uphill battle, but it’s really important.

I’ve tried to make your job a little easier by creating a list of some of the most popular (and least appropriate) movies and tv shows that everybody is watching, but your child probably shouldn’t. This week’s spotlight is all about what everyone’s streaming on Netflix…and why your child shouldn’t.

1. Squid Game (TV-MA)

This Korean original on Netflix has enraptured all ages and has even led to spin-off games on Roblox, only making it easier for young children to be exposed to the gore and death in the show.

2. You Season 3 (TV-MA)

This thriller is told from the point of view of a stalker-turned-murderer and has plenty of violence and mentions of drug use that might not be suitable for younger audiences.

3. Money Heist (TV-MA)

The plot includes a lot of drugs, violence, and sexual content that is not suitable for audiences under the age of 18.

4. Cowboy Bebop (TV-MA)

Don’t let the fact that it is animated fool you. This anime, both the original and Netflix remake, are not suitable for children due to extreme violence.

5. The Witcher (TV-MA)

This show is based on a video game of the same name and is unsuitable for children due to its graphic content and violence.

6. Arcane (TV-14)

Depending on how old your child is, this new Netflix original based on the incredibly popular video game League of Legends might be an appropriate watch. It features a diverse cast and displays many positive role models. However, this does not counteract the excessive violence shown as well as quite a few sexual innuendo and vulgar language.

By no means is this a comprehensive list! A helpful tool to make sure your child is watching age-appropriate content is already built into Netflix as the kid-only account that will show them content within the specific age rating you specify.

Keep in mind, however, they can just as easily click another active adult Netflix account and get access to all the movies and tv shows that you were trying to stop them from watching. The only way that you can be entirely sure they won’t be able to access mature content is if you set a 4-digit pin code on all other accounts except for theirs.

Even with this wonderful little feature, you might still be anxious to let them watch free. Another helpful way to make sure your child isn’t watching something they shouldn’t is IMDb’s parent guide. All you need to do is look up the specific show/movie your child would like to watch and scroll down the page until you see a section titled “Parents guide”. There, it will have a comprehensive guide of all the specific scenes that might have inappropriate content.

The website breaks it into helpful sections: Sex & Nudity, Violence & Gore, Profanity, Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking, and Frightening & Intense Scenes. This also means that it might detail some important plot points so be careful if you don’t want the story ruined! They section it off into a separate part at the bottom so it’s easy to avoid if you don’t want spoilers.

Good luck and safe streaming!

Morgan Galvez is a freelance writer and editor with a BA in English (with a concentration in writing, rhetoric, and publication) from the College of Charleston. She is currently building her freelancing career through positions at Brainfuse and Fiverr.