WEBTOON Review for Parents: Is It Appropriate for Your Child?

My 13-year-old spent months on WEBTOON. I noticed but didn't pay too much attention. "It's just comics," she said. "Everyone at school has it." So, I believed her, and I figured it was like the manga she used to read.

Then I actually looked at what she was reading. Half of it was fine. Half of it made me shocked and uncomfortable. So, I decided to understand and share what WEBTOON is and what kids are being exposed to.

Quick Answer: Is WEBTOON Safe?

WEBTOON can be safe for teens aged 15+. This is also what Common Sense Media suggests.

• That said, many users say whether WEBTOON is suitable for kids largely depends on their maturity level.
• To protect young users, the app asks users' ages, displays warnings for sensitive episodes, and disables commenting for child accounts. [Other safety measures >>>]
• Even so, its age gate can be easily bypassed, inappropriate episodes are not a few, and it has addictive "binge-reading" designs and a comments section. [Other risks >>>]
• So, parental guidance is recommended to make the reading experience safer.

What Is WEBTOON?

WEBTOON is a digital comic platform where users can explore and read thousands of illustrated stories directly on the app or the web.

The platform mainly features two types of content. WEBTOON Originals is a professionally produced series released under official editorial guidelines. WEBTOON Canvas, on the other hand, allows anyone to upload their own comics.

What Kids Like About WEBTOON?

Having spent several days exploring WEBTOON, it's easy to see why so many youth are hooked:

• It applies vertical scrolling instead of flipping through panels like a printed book, which makes the comics easier to read on mobile devices.
• The variety of genres is another big draw. WEBTOON classifies thousands of titles by category, from fantasy adventures and school life dramas to horror and informative; kids can easily find content that matches their interests.
• Many series release new episodes weekly, which keeps readers coming back to see what happens next. This episodic structure creates anticipation similar to following a TV series.
• Finally, the platform offers community features, like commenting and the creator's feed, which makes reading feel more social.

Safety Measures of WEBTOON for Kids

On testing, I found there are several measures in place to help ensure young users have a safe reading experience. Below are some of the safety measures taken by WEBTOON:

1Asking for Age When Signing Up

WEBTOON requires users to enter their age during sign-up, helping the platform suggest stories suitable for their age group. However, its mechanism has fatal loopholes.

2Implementing Content Ratings by Age

WEBTOON uses a rating system for its comics to ensure users do not encounter age-inappropriate content:

• All Ages: Suitable for everyone
• Teen (13+): May contain mild violence, gore, or mild language
• Young Adult (16+): May include stronger themes such as sexual references, drug use, self-harm, etc.
• Mature (18+): May include graphic violence, nudity, or explicit themes

The above rating system is also applied to Canvas content. Canvas creators have to fill out a questionnaire (6 questions) to rate the content. If they don't, the comic will be labeled "Not Yet Rated" and won't be accessed by underage users.

3Showing Warning for Mature Content

Episodes with potentially sensitive or mature themes display clear warnings, giving readers a heads-up before reading. This is to prevent accidental exposure to material that may not be age-appropriate.

Not only that, comics reviewed and labeled as "mature" are restricted and unavailable to accounts under 18.

Two types of content warnings on WEBTOON

4Restricting Some Features for Child Accounts

To further protect younger users, WEBTOON limits certain features in child accounts, such as commenting or accessing mature-rated series. These restrictions comply with COPPA, ensuring kids can safely enjoy the platform.

Potential Risks for Kids on WEBTOON

While WEBTOON offers a wide variety of comics that kids enjoy, there are some risks parents and guardians should be aware of.

Ineffective Age Verification

WEBTOON states that it requires users to be at least 13 years old, and younger children may only access the platform with parental consent; however, I could still create an account for an 11-year-old during testing.

Moreover, it allows users to use the service without entering an age.

Various Types of Inappropriate Content

Because Canvas content ratings are heavily based on creator self-reporting, some creators may not always accurately rate their content. A Canvas creator on Reddit mentioned, "Some of the bigger creators get away with content that might otherwise go against guidelines… it's mostly up to the individual creator to add warnings."

In other words, these user-generated comics may still contain inappropriate themes (such as gore, suggestive themes, or self-harm) for younger audiences.

During my own browsing on WEBTOON, I also noticed that some readers strongly criticized certain comics for including explicit romantic scenes, arguing that they are not suitable for kids.

Although it has a sensitive content warning, users can continue reading by clicking "yes" or bypass the restricted mature content by creating a new adult account.

Binge Reading & Addiction

The vertical scrolling format and frequent episode updates make it easy for kids to read for hours at a time, potentially leading to binge reading.

Without external limits, children may find it difficult to self-regulate their consumption of these highly addictive visual comics.

Uncontrolled Spending

Though WEBTOON is free to use, some comics offer paid episodes or early access. Readers have to buy "Coins" with real money to unlock episodes.

Since these paid episodes are expertly designed to create cliffhangers, which can lead to unexpected charges.

Negative Interactions

Most comics feature a comment section, which acts as a social media hub for readers. However, research from Pew Research Center shows that online comments can sometimes become hotbeds for harassment, name-calling, and hostile interactions.

Besides, many users reported that someone exploits the WEBTOON comments to lure them to other platforms, like social media or messaging apps.

Is anyone else getting these comments?
by
u/MonstaTart in
WebtoonCanvas

How to Keep Your Kids Safe on WEBTOON

Since WEBTOON's content warnings and restrictions can be easily bypassed and its mechanism can lead to binge reading or unexpected spending, a "hands-off" approach isn't enough.

To ensure your child enjoys online comics safely, consider taking the following steps:

Talking to Your Kids about the Content

Start by discussing what types of stories they might encounter on WEBTOON. Teach them to check the category on each series before reading, and explain why some themes (such as romance) might not be suitable for younger readers.

Setting Clear Time Limits

Comics are highly engaging, which can easily lead to binge reading. Setting daily time limits or late-night "restricted" hours helps ensure kids enjoy the stories without affecting their eyes or sleep.

Tools like AirDroid Parental Control make this easier by allowing parents to set screen time limits or block specific apps during bedtime.

You can also encourage breaks between episodes to promote healthier reading habits.

Establishing a "Reading Contract"

A reading agreement is simply a set of rules that both parents and kids agree on. It helps set clear expectations about how the platform should be used without invading each other's privacy.

Here is a WEBTOON Reading Contract with essential rules you can directly use with your child:

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