Parents' Guide to

Netflix

By Christy Matte, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Lots of great kids' media with layered parent controls.

App iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire Free to try Entertainment
Netflix Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Netflix App: Screenshot #1
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Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 23 parent reviews

luciae
luciae Adult
September 26, 2020
age 2+

Christian perspective of Netflix

Netflix is perhaps one of the better known streaming services of this day and age. Because of that, it has the potential to greatly influence and impact hundreds of thousands of people. While Netflix does include quite a few good movies and shows, such as inspirational films like "God's Not Dead", or wholesome family friendly shows such as "One Day at a Time," "Gilmore Girls," or "The Great British Baking Show," it also streams some that are morally questionable, and as Christians, that should be objectionable to us, such as the animated series "Big Mouth." Immoral shows and movies most commonly violate the media key of Human Dignity. This is because most shows that are immoral are objectionable because they in some way or another objectify and de-humanize people, whether that be through obscenity, or gratuitous violence. This is wrong, since every human has dignity, and should never be portrayed as merely an object. At the same time, though, Netflix has many movies and shows that do uphold the dignity of the person, which is a good thing. So when browsing Netflix, looking for something to watch, its important to remember the key of attitude awareness, and really consider exactly what message (good or bad) a certain movie or show is trying to give. In this way, we can be aware of, and avoid, any immoral messages, but also, if we are really looking at something closely, we can see and appreciate aspects of beauty, truth, and goodness that may be present in a movie or show. These things should always be present in, and emphasized in, every piece of media that is created.
1 person found this helpful.
Santino Crochetti
Santino Crochetti Parent of 8-year-old
May 20, 2023
age 7+

fine for all ages

See all 23 parent reviews

What’s It About?

The NETFLIX app allows you to stream titles on a mobile device via your existing Netflix account using Wi-Fi or a mobile network. Though the app doesn't allow setting adjustments, parents can set filters on the website and create up to five user profiles with age-appropriate settings. Access to specific profiles can be restricted by activating the profile lock. Managing profiles and making changes to the account requires a password. Parental controls include viewing restrictions, profile locks, and access to viewing activity. The default "Kid" profile only shows titles with maturity ratings for twelve and under, which are TV-Y through PG movies and TV-PG content. Parents can adjust and further limit maturity rating access under viewing restrictions for the profile. Parents can also block specific titles that may not have been caught in the ratings filter or that may be specifically objectionable to their family.

With a few exceptions (such as the warning cards at the start of episodes of 13 Reasons Why), other than general maturity rating and content description, there aren't any other advisory details provided at the beginning of shows that could have challenging content. The app tracks viewing trends under each profile and recommends titles based on viewing history. It also makes recommendations based on popularity on Netflix and trending status. For adults and teens, the app lists titles under a collection of categories that aim to represent diverse interests, including Music & Musicals, Comedies, Crime Movies, History Documentaries, Netflix Originals, International Movies, and LGBTQ Movies. The search function allows users to find specific content offered on the Netflix platform.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (23):
Kids say (106):

This app version of the popular video streamer is a convenient way to access your account and the content it provides. Although easily accessible with access to a Wi-Fi or mobile network, users also have the option to download titles for offline viewing, which adds on-demand appeal. The interface is simple to use, and the picture and sound quality are usually quite good on a Wi-Fi network, though mobile quality has been reported to be spotty, with lots of buffering interruptions. Titles are usually accompanied by maturity rating and a brief description to help families determine whether it's worth watching. It's important to note that additional warnings and filtering may occur, given concerns surrounding shows like 13 Reasons Why. To address concerns around loop holes, Netflix has added features to improve parent controls and profile security. The universal password is required to make changes to any of the account's settings. The profile lock, which is a four-digit code, adds an additional layer of security, restricting access to profiles without the code. This ensures kids don't access more mature content by opening another family member's profile. This can also come in handy for those wanting to lock others out of their profile so their viewing preferences don't impact viewing history and the platform's recommendations based on viewing trends. Parents can also access a list of recently viewed programs and movies using a Web browser if they want to verify what kids have been watching. And parents have significant control over a profile's access to particular maturity ratings and can scale up or down based on what they feel is appropriate for their kids. The improved parental controls and security features bring families closer to ensuring kids have a safe viewing experience. The only downside is that all of this has to be done on a Web browser, and editing features on the app itself are extremely limited. Netflix offers great content, countless titles, and is consistently adding new and original content ensuring something for everyone!

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the meaning of "age-appropriate" when kids access Netflix. Why are certain movies or shows OK for one family member but not another?

  • Talk about rules and expectations. What are movie ratings? Which ratings are OK for each family member? If profile locks are not set, what are the rules about using different profiles?

App Details

  • Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
  • Pricing structure: Free to try (monthly subscription ranges from $8.99 - $15.99.)
  • Release date: April 13, 2020
  • Category: Entertainment
  • Publisher: Netflix, Inc.
  • Version: 12.27.0
  • Minimum software requirements: iOS 12.0 or later, Android 5.0 and up
  • Last updated: September 16, 2021

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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