Is TextNow Safe for Kids? What Parents Need to Know in 2025 by Toma Novakovic
Toma Novakovic
Updated on: February 7, 2025
Fact-checked by Kate Davidson
TextNow is safe to use, but it’s not fully suitable for kids. It’s a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service that gives you a phone number for free calls and texts in Canada and the US in exchange for serving you with ads.
TextNow lacks age restrictions and parental controls, which exposes kids to potential risks. It also makes it pretty easy for strangers to make contact with your kid.
To mitigate these risks, I recommend using a parental control app like Qustodio to regulate your child’s access to the TextNow service and ensure their safety.
What Are the Risks of TextNow?
- Contact with strangers. TextNow assigns a random phone number to each user and anyone using the app can see this number and contact your child, even if they don’t know them. If your child’s number is shared or exposed outside of the app, more strangers could easily send texts or make calls.
- Exposure to inappropriate content. Since anyone on TextNow can contact anyone else, kids may receive inappropriate messages or media (like explicit language, images, or videos). There is no automatic or any other type of screening, so harmful content can be sent without restriction.
- Privacy concerns. TextNow collects and shares user data with advertisers and other business and marketing partners. While you can adjust settings in your child’s account to opt out of some of this data collection, such as for targeted advertising purposes, there’s no way to significantly reduce the amount of data TextNow collects about your child.
- Scams & phishing. Scammers can easily contact kids through TextNow, trying to trick them into sharing personal details and money or clicking on harmful links. And since TextNow doesn’t require identity verification, scammers can easily pretend to be a friend or a family member reaching out to them under false pretenses.
- Misinformation risks. Because anyone can contact your child on TextNow, they may end up receiving unverified news or information. Since children may not have fully developed critical thinking skills, they could be more easily misled by false or misleading content.
- Reassigned phone numbers. TextNow may reassign unused numbers to new users, meaning your child could receive calls or messages intended for someone else. This can expose them to unwanted contacts, such as persistent telemarketers or individuals with malicious intentions.
- Annoying ads. TextNow is supported by ads, which can be disruptive and distracting. Some ads might even expose kids to inappropriate content.
- Risk of excessive screen time. TextNow makes communication easy, but it can also encourage your child to spend too much time on their phone. Some users have reported problems with the app’s notifications, where they receive alerts for new messages that aren’t there. This can create a cycle of checking the app repeatedly, even when there’s nothing new.
- Potential for overspending. Although TextNow is free to use, it offers premium features and data plans that could tempt your child to spend money irresponsibly. It’s important to monitor any purchases to avoid unnecessary charges.
What Age Is TextNow Appropriate For?
TextNow requires users to be at least 13 years old to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a US law designed to protect children’s online privacy. However, in Quebec, the minimum age is 14, and in California, it’s 16 due to stricter privacy laws.
The Apple App Store rates TextNow as suitable for users aged 12 and older, based on features like user interaction and in-app purchases, which may expose younger children to risks. In contrast, the Google Play Store gives TextNow a PEGI 3 rating, claiming it’s appropriate for all ages, though this doesn’t fully account for the app’s potential dangers.
I’d recommend TextNow for older teenagers who are mature enough to use it responsibly. The platform exposes users to risks such as scams, contact with strangers, and online predators, which younger users may not be equipped to handle safely.
How to Keep Your Kids Safe on TextNow
1. Install a Good Quality Parental Control App
I recommend using a premium parental control app to make your child’s TextNow usage safer, as the app itself doesn’t offer built-in child safety features. A high-quality app like Qustodio can:
- Schedule allowed time for TextNow. Set specific times when your child can use TextNow, so they can’t access it during study time or at night when they should be sleeping.
- Block access to the app. If your child spends too much time on TextNow, you can block access entirely to help them focus on school and family time.
- Provide activity reports. Qustodio generates detailed reports showing how much time your child spends on TextNow, helping you identify if it’s time to intervene and limit their usage.
2. Show Your Child How to Block Unwanted Users
The only safeguarding tool TextNow offers is a blocking function. Blocking someone is simple:
- Go to the conversation or call log with the number you want to block.
- Tap the three dots icon in the top right corner.
- In the drop-down menu, select Block Number.
- Tap Block or Block & Report Junk.
Once blocked, the number can no longer contact your child.
Note that TextNow allows you to block numbers outside the app too, by texting “#STOP” (in all caps, with the hash sign).
3. Close Your Underage Child’s Account
If you discover that your child opened a TextNow account without your permission and lied about their age, you can contact TextNow support to have the account removed. All you need to do is send an email to abuse@textnow.com detailing your request, with the subject line “Parent Deactivation Request”.
TextNow takes the minimum age requirements (14 in Quebec, 16 in California, and 13 elsewhere) seriously and will ban users who don’t meet the minimum age requirement.
4. Talk to Your Child About Online Privacy
It’s crucial to teach your child the importance of protecting their personal information online.
- Explain the risks of sharing personal details and how people on the internet might not be who they claim to be or may have bad intentions.
- Encourage them to be skeptical of strangers online.
- Reassure your child that they can always come to you if they encounter any troubling interactions on TextNow, so you can address the issue right away.
5. Get Good Antivirus Software
An antivirus is a great way to protect your child and their device, as TextNow is often targeted by spambots and scammers. These malicious links try to steal personal information or inject malware onto devices.
A reliable antivirus like Norton can protect your child’s device if they accidentally open one of these harmful links. In addition to using antivirus software, it’s important to talk to your child about recognizing suspicious links and teach them never to enter personal information without consulting you first.
Is My Child Anonymous on TextNow?
Your child can maintain some degree of anonymity on TextNow, but the app collects a large amount of potentially identifying personal information. This includes your kid’s name, billing address, ZIP, postal code, etc.
According to TextNow’s Privacy Policy, it shares this data with advertisers and business partners, but it does not share personal information directly with other users unless your child chooses to reveal it themselves.
However, it’s unclear how TextNow keeps this information secure. The Privacy Policy mentions that the company protects data with “technical, organizational, and physical safeguards,” but it doesn’t specify what measures are in place or whether it uses end-to-end encryption. So far, there haven’t been any reported data breaches.
Additionally, TextNow complies with local laws and may hand over user information to authorities if required by law. It’s important to stay informed about local data privacy regulations to understand how your child’s information might be used or shared.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TextNow okay to use for a 13-year-old?
It depends. The minimum age to use TextNow is 14 in Quebec and 16 in California, so a 13-year-old can’t have an account in those areas.
Even if your child is older, TextNow exposes kids to risks like contact with strangers and scams, so I wouldn’t recommend it for young teens. It’s important to consider your child’s maturity and ability to handle those risks before deciding.
Does TextNow have parental controls?
No, TextNow does not have any built-in parental controls or monitoring features. To manage your child’s use of the app, you’ll need a third-party parental control app. Apps like Qustodio can track usage, provide activity reports, and let you set limits or block access at specific times.
Is TextNow really free?
Yes, the TextNow app itself is free to use. However, it frequently prompts users to buy a data plan, get a TextNow SIM card, or upgrade to a paid plan to remove ads. These options can be tempting, and your child may end up spending money on them if you’re not careful.
Can I use a VPN with TextNow?
No, TextNow doesn’t allow VPNs or any other location-spoofing software as it only serves users in the US and Canada. This limits your options if you’re looking to protect your child’s anonymity on the app. However, there are other ways to improve your child’s security on TextNow.
