Wattpad
A guide for families with key information about ‘Wattpad’, including the age rating, key terminology, risks and instructions for enabling parental controls and safety settings.
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How Wattpad works
Wattpad is a free social storytelling platform that allows users to:
- connect with and read content from over 20 different genres from around the world
- create and share their own original stories for free
- share comments and messages with other users
- find other users with similar interests
- gain a following
Writers can upload small sections of their work at a time, which allows them to reflect on the feedback they receive before writing more.
The platform is also known for its fan fiction, where amateur writers create fictional texts featuring characters from popular culture.
Minimum age requirements
According to Wattpad’s terms of service, the minimum age to use the platform is 13. However, the Apple App Store rates Wattpad 17+ due to the maturity of some of the user-generated content on the site.
There is no age verification when creating a Wattpad account. The platform relies on self-reporting. Users under 17 are unable to access mature content, so you should supervise your child while they create their account to ensure they enter the correct date of birth.
Terms
Reading list
A public list of stories that users have read or would like to read. This is displayed on a user profile and can be used to make connections between users on the platform.
Library
A private space for tracking books or stories a user has read or is currently reading.
Premium+
A paid-for service users can purchase to unlock certain books and stories, features and read ad-free.
Paid stories
Users can earn money from the content they post on the platform using paid stories.
Coins
This is the in-app currency on Wattpad, which users can gift to writers for stories they like. ‘Coins’ must be purchased using real money.
Vote
A way for users to show their support to the writer.
Tags
This categorises content on the platform and allows users to search the tags to find the type of content they are interested in. Creators are responsible for adding the appropriate tags to their content.
New adult
This refers to a category of stories which contain erotic, romantic and relationship stories and usually contain a sexual narrative and adult language.
Exclusive Chapter
Extensions to the story in the form of prequels, sequels, alternative endings or whatever the writer wishes them to be. These can be accessed via a paid subscription to a writer.
Writer subscriptions
This allows users to subscribe to a certain writers’ accounts to get unlimited and exclusive access to all the extras on their stories for a fixed fee each month.
What Wattpad offers
Creative skills
Anyone can write on Wattpad for free, meaning young people can use it to develop their writing skills and share their own stories. The short length of each Wattpad chapter is manageable and can keep your child motivated while writing. Feedback from commenters can help them to improve their work.
Encourages literacy
Wattpad gives users access to free reading material from across the globe. This can encourage your child to:
- read more
- improve their vocabulary and reading comprehension
- develop their critical thinking skills
Managing risks
Inappropriate content
With so much user-generated content available on Wattpad, it is possible that your child will come across inappropriate content. This could be through the stories themselves, but also through inappropriate profile names, book or story titles and user comments.
There are actions you can take to reduce the risk of exposure to inappropriate content.
Disable mature content
In the ‘Content Preferences’ section of the Wattpad settings, you can disable mature content. This will prevent stories containing explicit content and adult themes being shown to your child.
Use tags
Writers on the platform are required to ‘tag’ their stories, to help readers find stories they would be interested in. Encourage your child to avoid stories that feature mature tags. You can also block certain tags in the settings, to prevent your child from being shown stories with these tags.
Contact with other users
Users can make public comments on the stories they have read. They can also talk privately using the ‘Messages’ feature, which cannot be disabled. Your child could have private conversations with someone they do not know or receive insulting comments on their stories.
To lessen the impact of contact from strangers, you can take the following steps.
Talk with your child
Speak to your child about the risks of connecting with strangers and explain the importance of not sharing any personal or identifiable information within chats. Remind them to tell you if they have been asked personal questions and to report anyone who makes them feel uncomfortable.
Explore blocking and reporting tools
Teach your child how to block and report users on Wattpad. This will prevent the user from contacting your child and can make the platform safer for everyone.
Overspending
Wattpad has its own in-app currency known as ‘Coins’. Users can:
- earn ‘Coins’ through watching video adverts
- buy ‘Coins’ via Google or Apple accounts
- use their ‘Coins’ on Wattpad to unlock ‘Paid stories’
You can take steps to prevent your child from overspending.
Talk to your child
Speak to your child about in-app purchases to make sure they understand that real money is used to make purchases within the app. Compare the money they spend on the app to things they could buy in the real world to help them understand the value of money.
Set purchase restrictions
In the settings of your child’s Android or iOS device, you can set purchasing restrictions to prevent your child from spending money on Wattpad without your permission.
Settings to protect your child
If you are concerned about your child’s wellbeing while using Wattpad, these settings can help keep them safe.
Hide mature content
In the Wattpad settings, you can turn off mature content to prevent content with explicit and adult themes being shown to your child.
Hiding mature content (website)
- On the Wattpad website, select your child’s profile picture in the top right of the screen.
- When the dropdown menu appears, select ‘Settings’.
- Inside settings, select ‘Content Preferences’.
- Under the ‘Mature Content’ heading, switch the toggle to ‘OFF’.
Hiding mature content (app)
- In the Wattpad app, select your child’s profile picture in the top right of the screen.
- Select the gear icon in the top right of the screen.
- Under the ‘PRIVACY & SAFETY’ heading, select ‘Content preferences’.
- Switch off the toggle next to ‘Show mature stories’.
Disable in-app spending
In the system settings of your child’s Android or iOS device, you can set it so unverified in-app spending is disabled. This prevents your child from overspending on Wattpad.
Disable in-app purchases (on iOS)
- With Screen Time enabled, go to ‘Settings’.
- Open ‘Screen Time’ and select ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’.
- Turn on the toggle next to ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’.
- Select ‘iTunes & App Store Purchases’.
- Select In-app Purchases and select ‘Don't Allow’.
Disable in-app purchases (on Android)
- Go to your ‘Google Play Store’ app.
- Select the profile icon.
- Select ‘Payments and subscriptions’.
- Select ‘Purchase verification’.
- Select ‘Verification frequency’.
- Set it to ‘Always’ and Select ‘OK’.
Explore blocking and reporting tools
Show your child how to use Wattpad’s blocking and reporting features and teach them when they should use these tools.
Report a story
- Find the story you wish to report and select the 3 -dots icon at the top.
- Select ‘Report’.
- Choose the reason you wish to report the story from the given options:
- Inappropriate content
- Copyright infringement
- Add additional comments to support your report.
- Select ‘Report’ to complete.
Report a user
- Find the user you wish to report and select the 3-dots icon.
- Select ‘Report’.
- Give your reason for why you wish to report this user, adding additional comments to support your report.
- Select ‘Report’ to complete submitting the report.
Block a user
- Find the user you wish to report and select the 3-dots icon.
- Select ‘Block [username]’.
- Select ‘Block’ again to confirm.