If you haven't been pulled into the cultural phenomenon that is The Traitors, here's the basic setup: contestants are secretly divided into "Faithful" players and a small group of "Traitors." During the day, everyone works together on missions to build a prize pot. At night, the Traitors "murder" a Faithful player (who's eliminated from the game). Then at a daily "banishment," all players vote to eliminate someone they suspect is a Traitor.

The Faithful win if they banish all the Traitors. The Traitors win if they make it to the end without being caught. It's basically Among Us meets reality TV meets a murder mystery dinner party, set in a dramatically lit Scottish castle.

Series 4 launched on New Year's Day 2026 with a game-changing twist: the Secret Traitor. This player wears a distinctive red cloak and their identity is hidden from everyone—other Traitors, Faithful players, AND the audience. They control which Faithful players get "murdered" each night, adding a whole new dimension of uncertainty to the game.

The appeal is pretty straightforward: it's strategic, it's dramatic, and it's endlessly rewatchable because you're constantly trying to figure out who's lying. For teens who grew up playing social deduction games like Among Us or Werewolf, The Traitors is that same gameplay with real stakes and real human psychology.

The show has also become massive on social media, with endless TikTok theories, reaction videos, and breakdowns of player strategies. There's even a companion podcast, The Traitors: Uncloaked, that debriefs each episode—so if your teen is into it, they're probably REALLY into it.

About 92% of families in our community report having a TV in their home, and with an average of 4.2 hours of daily screen time, reality competition shows like this are increasingly part of the family viewing rotation. The question isn't whether your teen will hear about it—it's whether you want them watching it.

The official rating situation: The BBC hasn't published a specific age classification for Series 4 in the available sources, but the show has historically been positioned for viewers 12 and up. That tracks with the content—there's no explicit violence, sexual content, or profanity, but the psychological intensity and themes of deception can be a lot for younger viewers.

What makes it intense:

Age recommendations:

The deception factor is the whole point. Unlike most reality shows where lying is considered bad gameplay, The Traitors rewards skillful deception. For some families, this creates an interesting conversation about context—when is lying acceptable? How do we think about strategy games versus real relationships? For other families, it's just not a comfortable premise to watch together.

It's genuinely suspenseful. The new Secret Traitor twist means even seasoned viewers can't predict what's happening. If your kid gets anxious with suspenseful content, this might not be the right fit. The murders happen at night in dramatic sequences that lean into horror movie aesthetics (think: creepy castle, fog, ominous music).

Social dynamics can get messy. People cry. They get angry. They feel genuinely hurt when they discover they've been lied to, even though they signed up for this. Some contestants handle it with grace; others don't. It's reality TV, so emotions run high, and not everyone looks good under pressure.

The companion content is everywhere. If your teen watches the show, they'll likely want to dive into fan theories, recaps, and social media discourse. The BBC's official podcast The Traitors: Uncloaked is actually pretty great—it provides behind-the-scenes context and helps viewers process what they've watched. That said, the online fan community can get intense about their favorite players and theories.

It's surprisingly educational about psychology. If you're looking for a silver lining, the show is basically a masterclass in reading body language, understanding cognitive biases, and recognizing manipulation tactics. Teens who are into psychology, debate, or strategy games will find a lot to analyze. Check out our guide on media that teaches critical thinking.

In our Screenwise community, 40% of families report that kids have their own Netflix accounts, while another 40% use Netflix regularly as a family. That means there's a decent chance your teen's friends are watching popular shows like The Traitors—or at least talking about them at school.

The show airs on BBC One and iPlayer, so it's most accessible to UK families, but it's gained international attention through social media clips and discussions. The US version (which airs on Peacock) has also been hugely popular, so American teens are likely familiar with the format even if they haven't watched the BBC version.

If you decide The Traitors is appropriate for your teen, watching together can actually be valuable:

Pause and discuss strategy. Ask your teen who they think the Traitors are and why. What body language or inconsistencies are they noticing? This turns passive watching into active critical thinking.

Talk about the ethics. Is it okay to lie in a game? How would they feel if they were a Faithful player who'd been manipulated? What would they do if they were chosen as a Traitor?

Analyze the social dynamics. Why do certain players get targeted for banishment? How do group dynamics and biases influence decisions? There's actually a lot here about mob mentality and confirmation bias.

Set boundaries around the companion content. If your teen wants to engage with fan theories and recaps, that's fine—but the online discourse can get heated. Make sure they understand how to engage with fan communities respectfully and recognize when conversations are getting toxic.

If The Traitors feels too intense but your teen is interested in strategic reality competition:

For teens who love the social deduction aspect, consider introducing them to board games like Secret Hitler, Coup, or The Resistance—same strategic lying, but in a controlled game environment where everyone knows the rules upfront.

The Traitors Series 4 is compelling television that's genuinely well-produced and strategically interesting. The new Secret Traitor twist adds unprecedented suspense, and for teens who can handle psychological tension and themes of deception, it's an engaging watch that can spark interesting conversations about strategy, ethics, and human behavior.

Watch if: Your teen is 12+ (ideally 14+), comfortable with psychological tension, interested in strategy and social dynamics, and able to separate game context from real-life ethics.

Skip if: Your child is sensitive to betrayal themes, gets anxious with suspenseful content, struggles with distinguishing game strategy from real-life behavior, or is under 12.

The real question: Is this how you want to spend family screen time? With an average of 4.2 hours of daily screen time in our community, every choice matters. If you're going to watch reality TV together, The Traitors at least offers substance for discussion—but there's no shame in deciding your family would rather spend that time on something else.

Ask our chatbot about age-appropriate reality competition shows or explore our guide to strategic games that teach critical thinking.