Parental Controls for MTV Play: What Parents Need to Know
TL;DR: The MTV Play app has zero built-in parental controls. If your kid has access to it, they can watch everything from Teen Mom to Ridiculousness to Jersey Shore without any content filters. Your options are device-level restrictions, streaming service parental controls if you're accessing MTV through cable login, or honestly—just not having the app on their devices.
MTV Play (sometimes called the MTV app) is the streaming platform for MTV's library of reality shows, dating shows, music content, and original programming. It's free with a cable/streaming service login, or you can watch some content with ads.
The content ranges from relatively tame (Catfish, music videos) to extremely mature (Jersey Shore Family Vacation, Are You The One?, Teen Mom). And here's the thing that matters most: the app doesn't distinguish between these content types with any kind of age gate or parental control system.
Unlike Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, or even YouTube, MTV Play doesn't have:
- Age-based profiles
- Content ratings filters
- PIN protection for mature content
- Watch history controls
- Time limits
This is a legacy of MTV being a cable channel that never really had to think about parental controls—you either had MTV or you didn't. The app just replicates that experience, which is... not great for intentional parenting in 2026.
Let's be real about what we're talking about:
The relatively okay stuff:
- Music videos and music-related content
- Catfish (though even this deals with mature themes)
- Ridiculousness (Rob Dyrdek reacting to viral videos—basically YouTube but curated)
- Some competition shows
The definitely-not-for-kids stuff:
- Jersey Shore and all its spinoffs (drinking, hookup culture, fighting)
- Teen Mom franchise (teen pregnancy, relationship drama, mature themes)
- Are You The One? (dating show with explicit content)
- Ex on the Beach (exactly what it sounds like)
- Various dating shows with sexual content and adult themes
The content is TV-14 to TV-MA, which means it's designed for audiences 14+ to adults only. But without controls, a 10-year-old with the app can watch the same content as a 17-year-old.
Since MTV won't help you here, you need to use other tools:
1. Don't Install It
The simplest solution. If your kids want to watch something specific on MTV, you can:
- Watch it together on a device you control
- Let them watch on a family TV where you can monitor
- Decide it's just not happening
2. iOS Screen Time Controls
On iPhone/iPad, you can:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Enable restrictions and scroll to Apps
- Set age restrictions for apps (this won't block MTV Play specifically, but you can block app installations)
- Use "Always Ask" for app downloads so they can't install it without permission
- Block specific apps entirely under "Allowed Apps"
The limitation: Screen Time can be worked around by tech-savvy kids, and it requires you to actively block the app since it doesn't have a rating-based filter.
3. Android Family Link
On Android devices:
- Set up Family Link parental controls
- Approve or block app installations
- Set content restrictions (though MTV Play doesn't properly report its content ratings)
- Block the app specifically if it's already installed
4. Cable/Streaming Provider Controls
If you're accessing MTV through a cable login (Xfinity, Spectrum, etc.) or a streaming service (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV), those services often have their own parental controls:
- Set up a PIN for TV-MA content
- Block specific channels
- Create separate profiles with restrictions
This won't affect the MTV Play app directly, but it can limit access to the login credentials needed.
5. Router-Level Blocking
For the truly committed:
The limitation: This only works on your home WiFi, not on cellular data or other networks.
Under 13: MTV Play is not appropriate. The content is designed for teens and adults, and even the "lighter" shows deal with themes that aren't developmentally appropriate for younger kids.
Ages 13-15: This is where it gets nuanced. Some MTV content (music videos, Ridiculousness) might be fine depending on your family values. But most of the reality programming deals with dating, sex, alcohol, and relationship drama that's probably better suited for older teens. Co-viewing is your friend here.
Ages 16+: Many families are comfortable with teens watching MTV content at this age, but it's still worth having conversations about what they're watching. Shows like Teen Mom can actually spark good discussions about consequences, relationships, and life choices—but they're not exactly educational programming.
If your kids are drawn to MTV-style content, here are some alternatives with better parental controls:
For reality TV fans:
- Netflix has tons of competition shows with actual content filters (The Great British Bake Off, Nailed It!, Floor is Lava)
- Disney+ has age-appropriate reality content
- YouTube has family-friendly challenge and competition channels with way less mature content
For music content:
- YouTube Music with parental controls
- Spotify with explicit content filters
- Apple Music with content restrictions
The MTV brand has changed: If you grew up watching TRL and music videos, know that MTV is now almost entirely reality programming, and much of it is pretty mature. It's not the MTV of the '90s and early 2000s.
Cable login sharing is common: Kids often get access to MTV Play through a friend's or relative's cable login. Have conversations about not sharing credentials and why certain content isn't appropriate yet.
Context matters: Some MTV shows (Catfish, for example) can actually prompt good conversations about online safety and authenticity. But you need to be watching together and talking about what you're seeing.
The appeal is real: MTV's reality shows are designed to be addictive and dramatic. If your teen is watching, don't be surprised if they get really into it—that's the point. It's worth discussing how reality TV is edited and produced to maximize drama.
MTV Play's lack of parental controls is frustrating but not surprising—it's a cable channel's app that was never designed with families in mind. Your best bet is to use device-level controls to prevent installation, or accept that if your older teen has access, you'll need to rely on conversation and trust rather than technical barriers.
For younger kids, this is a hard no—just don't install it. For older teens, it's a judgment call based on your family values and your kid's maturity level. If you do allow it, co-viewing and ongoing conversations about what they're watching are essential.
And honestly? There are so many better streaming options with actual parental controls that you might just decide MTV Play isn't worth the hassle.
- Check if MTV Play is installed on your kids' devices right now
- If it is, decide whether to remove it or have a conversation about appropriate content
- Set up device-level parental controls regardless (iOS Screen Time guide | Android Family Link guide)
- Have a conversation about why certain content isn't appropriate yet—and when it might be
- Consider alternatives to MTV content that offer similar entertainment with better controls
Need help navigating a specific show or situation? Ask about specific MTV shows and whether they're appropriate for your kid
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