Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Children watching squid game?

46 replies

TalkAboutASpicyMeatball · 10/03/2025 21:30

Just wondering if anyone here has let their child watch squid game and if so what age?

DS has just turned 10 and apparently most of the children in his class have watched both seasons. Obviously kids exaggerate about how "everyone else" gets to do this or that, but he's coming out with information that his best friends have told him about the show (characters, games, plot etc) so I do believe at least some of them have watched.

I'm not planning on letting him watch just because other parents allow it but I'm curious as to how many parents here would allow their 10 year old to watch? Surely it's not suitable for kids?

Maybe I'm just out of touch with modern parenting because it's not the first time other children in his friend group have been allowed to do things DS isn't. Eg over the last couple of years.. using Snapchat, call of duty/GTA, voice chat with randoms on Fortnite, things like that.

I'm not being over protective and completely out of step am I??

OP posts:
haufbiskiy · 10/03/2025 21:32

No

HorrorFan81 · 10/03/2025 21:35

Absolutely not. I've been watching the 'real' version with my 8 year old and that's fine - quite an interesting psychological study
The Korean one is incredibly violent and totally inappropriate for a 10 year old. Im fairly relaxed about what my kids watch but am horrified at parents letting their younger kids watch this. Its happened at my kids school too

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 10/03/2025 21:35

Dd's school had to put out a parent notification about it telling parents it's not for children, so I think a few kids have seen it

Dd is only 5 and is obsessed with colourblocks so we're a way off thankfully 😄

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

10 year olds Families
Original poster
TalkAboutASpicyMeatball · 10/03/2025 21:47

This is a relief to read! Thank you, I watched the first season when it came out but haven't been bothered about watching this latest one. Going by the first one though, I wasn't going to allow it.

@HorrorFan81 that sounds interesting, I've not heard of that! Where do you watch it?

OP posts:
Original poster
TalkAboutASpicyMeatball · 10/03/2025 21:49

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 10/03/2025 21:35

Dd's school had to put out a parent notification about it telling parents it's not for children, so I think a few kids have seen it

Dd is only 5 and is obsessed with colourblocks so we're a way off thankfully 😄

I miss the CBeebies days 😭

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 10/03/2025 21:50

My child is 11 and no I wouldn't let her

Wakemeupbe4yougogo · 10/03/2025 21:53

I'm 54 and it made me feel horribly uneasy after watching. There's no way I'd let a child watch it!

Iwishiwasapolarbear · 10/03/2025 21:54

My DS is 12 and I won’t let him

Original poster
TalkAboutASpicyMeatball · 10/03/2025 21:54

Oh I've just seen the real squid game competition on Netflix! Im more interested in this than the horror show 😁

OP posts:
Disposableusername374 · 10/03/2025 21:55

My almost 12 year old was allowed to watch it with his dad. While not my choice of viewing material he’s been able to discuss it in quite a sophisticated way and I don’t think it’s going to turn him into a murderous psychopath. (He read, and was therefore allowed to watch, The Hunger Games aged 9.)

DarkMagicStars · 10/03/2025 21:55

No. They shoot 100s of people in the head.

ghostbusters · 10/03/2025 21:55

My elder is 13 and we watched most of the first series together. I wouldn't have let him watch it a year ago as it was too much (some of it was getting a bit much, and he fast forwarded the sex scene). His 10 year old brother talks about squid games and his friends say they have watched it. He knows he's not allowed. The closest he'll get it watching the Mr Beast version on YouTube.

bookworm14 · 10/03/2025 22:04

My DD’s school had to send a letter home as it became apparent that a number of parents were letting their (upper-primary age) kids watch it. DD also claims there are people in her Year 5 class who have watched Scream and M3gan. I honestly don’t know what goes through these parents’ heads - are they thick or just poorly informed?

Balloonhearts · 10/03/2025 22:07

Er no. Too violent. They can wait until they're 16 or move out and get a job. Since no one will give them a job until 16 anyway, looks like they're waiting and it's tough shit for them.

Ddakji · 10/03/2025 22:14

DD watched it at 15 and loved it, as did I. It’s is very violent but I can see the appeal as they’re playing Korean children’s games - you can probably find more age appropriate videos of the games themselves on YouTube.

TY78910 · 10/03/2025 22:18

It must be popular amongst children as this is probably the fourth thread I've seen of this title... If I had to close my eyes a few times as it was too gory, then I certainly don't think it's for kids of primary school age...

seven201 · 10/03/2025 22:19

DCs school sent out a polite reminder about how it's too old for primary. Her after school club (same school but outside provider) sent a much more ranty email about how it was completely unacceptable for any of the kids to have seen it. Good for them!

My DC is year 4 and came home saying kids in the playground had been playing green light, red light but she didn't understand it.

Ddakji · 10/03/2025 22:21

seven201 · 10/03/2025 22:19

DCs school sent out a polite reminder about how it's too old for primary. Her after school club (same school but outside provider) sent a much more ranty email about how it was completely unacceptable for any of the kids to have seen it. Good for them!

My DC is year 4 and came home saying kids in the playground had been playing green light, red light but she didn't understand it.

Red light green light is a kids game, though. That’s the thing - the contestants play children’s games. It’s not the games that are the problem!

Ddakji · 10/03/2025 22:22

TY78910 · 10/03/2025 22:18

It must be popular amongst children as this is probably the fourth thread I've seen of this title... If I had to close my eyes a few times as it was too gory, then I certainly don't think it's for kids of primary school age...

The second season has recently aired, after a 4 year gap. So that’s probably why.

SwerveCity · 10/03/2025 22:24

I think a lot of kids have played it on Roblox but not actually watched the show, so they loosely know what it’s about.

JanglingJack · 10/03/2025 22:24

They'd be bored shirtless. There is so much more to Squid Game than the games. Just leave it on in Korean they'll soon switch off.

It's a brilliant show, I was hooked, but there's a lot going on that isn't shooting and tbh I've seen far worse. It's child appeal comes from green light / red light.

I bet they don't all sit round playing marbles or licking biscuits. No, because they haven't seen it.

TeenLifeMum · 10/03/2025 22:25

Not a chance. I didn’t watch the whole thing because I found it uncomfortable watching and I’m fine with most horror. I have 2 13yo DDs and they won’t be watching it. Dd1 is 17 and had no interest.

JanglingJack · 10/03/2025 22:25

Shirtless? I really do apologise.

Change that to a more palatable shitless.

TeenLifeMum · 10/03/2025 22:26

JanglingJack · 10/03/2025 22:25

Shirtless? I really do apologise.

Change that to a more palatable shitless.

I thought maybe when you get bored you strip and play with your boobs 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

forgotmyusername1 · 10/03/2025 22:29

Mine knows some of the games from things like roblocks but not watched the real thing (age 12) we did watch squid game the challenge which is harmless and beast games is along a similar vein and fun.

Swipe left for the next trending thread