FaZe Clan started as a Call of Duty trickshotting group on YouTube back in 2010 and has since evolved into one of the biggest esports and entertainment organizations in the world. They've got professional gamers, content creators, musicians, and influencers all under one brand umbrella. Think of them as the esports equivalent of a record label mixed with a reality TV show.

The organization has over 90 members, each with their own channels and content styles. Some focus on gaming (Fortnite, Call of Duty, Valorant), others do vlogs, challenges, pranks, and lifestyle content. Popular members include FaZe Rug (24M subscribers), FaZe Adapt, FaZe Banks, and FaZe Jarvis.

Your kid probably knows them from gaming content, but FaZe's appeal goes way beyond gameplay. It's the lifestyle, the drama, the crew dynamics, and the aspirational "look at this insane house/car/life" content that hooks young viewers.

The gaming connection: Many kids discover FaZe through gaming content. If your 12-year-old plays Fortnite or watches gaming videos, FaZe members are unavoidable. They're legitimately skilled players, and kids respect that.

The crew vibe: FaZe members live together in massive content houses, creating a friend-group dynamic that's incredibly appealing to middle schoolers. It's like watching a TV show about people hanging out, except it feels more real than scripted content.

The flex culture: FaZe doesn't hide their success. Luxury cars, designer clothes, massive houses, expensive pranks—it's all part of the brand. For 12-year-olds navigating social hierarchies and figuring out what success looks like, this content hits differently than it does for adults who can recognize the performance of it all.

Drama and storylines: FaZe has more interpersonal drama than a season of The Bachelor. Feuds between members, controversies, breakups, makeups—it creates ongoing storylines that keep kids coming back to see what happens next.

FaZe content isn't censored. F-bombs, sexual language, and casual profanity are woven throughout their videos. It's not constant, but it's frequent enough that you should assume your kid is hearing language you probably don't want normalized in your house. Some members are worse than others, but even the "cleaner" FaZe creators slip regularly.

This isn't explicit content, but there's a steady stream of sexual jokes, references to hooking up, and objectifying comments—especially in the vlog-style content. Female guests are sometimes treated as props or romantic interests rather than people. It's the kind of humor that 12-year-olds will definitely notice and potentially repeat.

The constant display of wealth can warp kids' understanding of normal life. When every video features a new $200,000 car or a $50,000 shopping spree, it creates unrealistic expectations and can make kids feel like their own lives are lacking. This isn't about being anti-success—it's about the way wealth is performed as the ultimate measure of worth.

FaZe loves pranks, but some cross into mean-spirited territory. Destroying someone's belongings "as a joke," elaborate schemes to embarrass friends, or pranks with real consequences get played for laughs. The line between funny and cruel gets blurry, and 12-year-olds don't always have the judgment to see the difference.

Several FaZe members have been involved in cryptocurrency scams and gambling promotion controversies. In 2021, multiple members were suspended or kicked out for promoting crypto schemes without disclosing their financial interests. While this isn't in every video, it's part of the broader FaZe ecosystem your kid is entering.

FaZe thrives on drama. Public feuds, call-out videos, response videos to response videos—it's exhausting and often toxic. This content teaches kids that public conflict is entertainment and that airing personal grievances online is normal behavior.

For 12-year-olds: This is borderline at best. If your kid is mature, you've had conversations about media literacy, and you're willing to co-view and discuss what they're watching, it could work. But honestly? Most 12-year-olds aren't ready to critically analyze the problematic elements while also being entertained by them.

For 14-15+: More reasonable, especially if your teen is into gaming and you've established good communication about online content. At this age, they can better understand the performance aspect of influencer content and have conversations about wealth, language, and behavior.

For under 12: Nope. There are so many better gaming creators who don't come with the baggage.

FaZe Swagg's Warzone gameplay is very different from FaZe Banks' drama-filled vlogs. If your kid is watching, ask which FaZe members they follow. Some focus almost entirely on gaming with minimal vlog content, while others are basically reality TV stars who happen to be associated with gaming.

Once your kid watches one FaZe video, YouTube will recommend more. And more. And more. The algorithm doesn't care about age-appropriateness—it cares about engagement. A 12-year-old who starts with gaming content can quickly end up watching relationship drama and controversy videos.

FaZe is massive among middle school boys especially. If you ban it outright, your kid will likely watch at friends' houses or feel left out of conversations. This doesn't mean you have to allow it, but it's worth considering whether you want to take a hard-line approach or a monitored-access approach.

The biggest risk isn't the profanity or even the mature content—it's the lifestyle messaging. FaZe sells a vision of success that's based on clout, wealth, and online fame. For kids trying to figure out their own paths, this can be genuinely harmful. Learn more about influencer culture and kids' development.

If your kid loves gaming content but you're not comfortable with FaZe, try these:

MrBeast Gaming: Massive challenges, clean language, genuinely entertaining. Your kid will still get the "crew of friends" vibe without the problematic elements.

Dude Perfect: Not pure gaming, but the trick-shot and challenge content has similar energy to early FaZe without any of the issues. Completely family-friendly.

PrestonPlayz: Huge Minecraft and gaming creator who keeps content appropriate for younger audiences while still being entertaining.

Unspeakable: Gaming challenges and Minecraft content that's designed for kids. No profanity, no drama, just fun content.

Technoblade: Minecraft content with clever humor and impressive skill. Unfortunately, Technoblade passed away in 2022, but his content library remains popular and is genuinely wholesome.

For more options, check out kid-friendly gaming YouTube channels.

If your kid is already watching FaZe, don't panic. Use it as an opportunity for media literacy conversations:

"What do you like about their videos?" Start by understanding the appeal. Is it the gaming skill? The friend dynamics? The lifestyle content?

"Do you think their life is really like that all the time?" Help your kid understand that influencer content is curated and performed. The drama is often manufactured for views.

"How does watching their videos make you feel about your own life?" This is the big one. If your kid feels inadequate or like their life is boring in comparison, that's a red flag.

"What would you do if a friend treated you the way they treat each other in pranks?" Use specific videos to talk about boundaries, respect, and what real friendship looks like.

"Why do you think they use that kind of language?" Instead of just saying "that's inappropriate," help your kid think critically about language choices and why creators make them.

Co-viewing: Watch a few videos together. Your kid will probably be mortified, but you'll get a real sense of what they're seeing and can have immediate conversations about concerning content.

Channel-specific rules: Maybe gaming content is okay, but vlog content isn't. You can be specific about which FaZe members are acceptable if any.

Time limits: FaZe content is designed to be binge-watched. Set clear limits on how much time can be spent on YouTube generally, not just FaZe specifically.

Check-ins: Regularly ask what they're watching and why. Keep the conversation open so they don't feel like they need to hide their viewing habits.

YouTube restrictions: Use YouTube's restricted mode and consider YouTube Kids for younger viewers, though 12-year-olds will likely resist the "kids" label. Learn more about YouTube parental controls.

FaZe Clan content is designed for older teens and young adults, not 12-year-olds. While it's not the worst thing your kid could be watching online, it's not great either. The profanity, sexual humor, materialism, and drama culture all push it into the "not recommended" category for middle schoolers.

That said, if your kid is watching, you're not a bad parent. This is just the reality of raising kids in the influencer age. The key is staying aware of what they're consuming and having ongoing conversations about what they're seeing.

If you decide to allow it with boundaries, make sure you're actually checking in on what they watch. If you decide it's not appropriate for your family, be prepared to offer compelling alternatives and explain your reasoning in a way that doesn't feel like you're just being controlling.

Every family will land in a different place on this, and that's okay. The important thing is making an intentional decision rather than just letting the algorithm decide what your kid consumes.

For more support navigating gaming culture and online content, check out how to talk to kids about online influencers or understanding gaming culture as a parent.