Would you let your 13 year old watch Squid Game?

I think something like Squid Game, which is so far removed from reality and very clearly a ‘story’ in some ways, is less frightening than something like The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas or Schindler's List. Which neither my 15yr old nor 13yr old have watched yet. To me, those films depict genuine horror and something they really should be frightened of.

Yes, given the following caveats:

1. We discuss what the premise of the show is (“Darling, it’s about a game show where rich people enjoy watching poor, desperate people compete for prize money. When they enter, they are aware that all but one contestant will die, and the winner is the last person standing.”). I would have the Big Talks about what this all means, and what they might expect to see.
2. We watch every episode of the show together, and discuss.

Game of Thrones really disturbed me in several places as a grown woman. Once you see this stuff you can't unsee it. I'm quite strict on violence in TV and use Common Sense Media as a guide.

We don't yet understand the impact of extreme violence on developing brains, as realistic graphic violence in abundance is a relatively recent thing, but there are many studies that show links to children watching violent content and aggression, mental health problems, and lack of empathy.

I'm not sure what the target audience is, probably 15-20, I found it a bit samey, but I'm obviously not the target audience, I haven't watched the second one but it's probably more of the same.

Beast Games is a fantastic, family friendly, alternative. We love it.

Mine would have been fine at that age but it really depends on the child. My 16 yo now watches stuff and tells me if I'll be ok without. Apparently Terrifier is too scary for me 🤷‍♀️

Have you seen it? 😆 its full of blood,gore and violence

I mean it's not scary it's just very violent. It's very good.

So you're saying anyone whose child might be scared or disturbed by it is silly?

Thanks for helping me discount your opinion.

Depends on the 13 year old surely. I let my DS at 14. DSIS was horrified. Her DS is same age and I wouldn’t have let him watch it as he’s a completely different character. I’ve found mine pretty good at self censoring actually. DD doesn’t like horror/ gore so wouldn’t watch something like that. DS1 loves it and has never been upset or bothered by anything he watches. DS2 is a mix so in general he has dipped his toe and completed/ abandoned series himself.

My almost 14 year old must have watched it when she was almost 13. She's watching the new series tonight.

She watches all sorts though, she loves horror films. We're terrible parents.

My 17 year old, on the other hand, would rather boil her own head than watch anything like that. She hates anything gory/scary so I wouldn't let her watch it 😂.

Yes, agree with this.

My teens were telling me their friends were playing GTA and CoD from about age 10 or 11 and I 100% believed them. Still a big fat no for them though!

Yes. I have drawn the line at the 10 year old watching it though.

I agree.

Your DS will tell you loads of his mates have seen it. Which they probably have - but doesn't mean they should have done.

Probably, depends on the child.

I found it very psychologically disturbing and heartbreaking at times
I let my 14 and 15 year olds watch it because I knew all their friends were and they would probably find a way anyway (friends houses etc)
My 14 year old had nightmares

Beast Games is fantastic!

Ds2 wandered in and put it on yesterday and I rolled my eyes at more You Tuber crap and picked my book up.

Yeah, my book lay forgotten after about four minutes and I was shouting at the TV along with ds2 😂 We watched three episodes in a row and I can't wait for the next episode to be released 😂

Yes, but it depends on the child. DS watched the first series at 12, he's 13 now and looking forward to starting the second series. He knows it's not real and loves horror/gory stuff so doesn't scare easily.

I'd have been terrified at that age, I couldn't cope with anything gory or scary until I was well into my twenties.

Also I don't believe that kids this age, and younger, being desensitised to extreme screen violence is a good thing.

Yes. There’s nothing that bad in it

No, definitely not. Not just because of violence and death, which I think can be acceptable depending on context, but because of its sadistic gleeful nature.

I watched Game of Thrones with my 13yo dd years ago, so I'd say yes. My ds at the same age wouldn't have liked it at all.

Nope.

Definitely yes! Mine turned 13 in September. He watched the first one. He’s a horror buff like me. He’s not silly and understands it’s not real. He started the new one last night.

DD watched the first series at 12. She wasn’t at all bothered by it, but she’s a big fan of all things horror. I watched a lot of horror at a similar age and wasn’t particularly phased by it. I think Squid Games bothered me more than her tbh, but it very much depends on your child.

It is both gruesome but also psychologically disturbing, if you have a child who can watch things through the lens of it being a completely made up TV programme it’s fine. For a sensitive child whose likely to dwell on it, absolutely not.