TL;DR: The Cheat Sheet for Tired Parents
If you’ve only got thirty seconds before a toddler starts climbing the curtains or a tween asks for "just five more minutes" on Roblox, here is the 2025 reality of content ratings:
- TV-Y / TV-Y7: Specifically for kids. Y is for everyone; Y7 has "fantasy violence" (think Ninjago).
- TV-G / TV-PG: General audiences. PG is the Wild West—it can mean "sweet family movie" or "this character just said a word I have to explain now."
- TV-14 / TV-MA: The "Not until you're older" zone. TV-14 is basically the new R-rated lite (looking at you, Stranger Things).
- The Letters Matter: Look for V (Violence), S (Sexual content), L (Language), and D (Suggestive Dialogue).
- The Golden Rule: Ratings are often set by the networks themselves, not a neutral board. They are marketing tools as much as they are safety tools.
Check out our guide on the best "Safe" shows for every age
Ask our chatbot if a specific show is actually okay for your kid
We’ve all been there. You finally sit down, pop on a "PG" movie thinking it’s going to be like Inside Out 2, and suddenly there’s a joke about "extramarital affairs" or a scene so scary it guarantees three nights of co-sleeping.
The TV Parental Guidelines were created in the 90s. Back then, we had like four channels and a VCR. Today, we have Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube, all throwing thousands of hours of content at our kids. The ratings are supposed to be our first line of defense, but they often feel like a secret code written by people who haven't actually met a child in twenty years.
This is the "Safe Zone." It’s designed for the youngest viewers (ages 2-6). The goal is to be educational or purely entertaining without anything that could scare a toddler.
- The Good: Bluey (the GOAT of modern parenting TV) and Sesame Street.
- The "Brain Rot" Risk: Just because it's TV-Y doesn't mean it's good. Some shows are just loud, bright colors designed to keep kids in a trance. Cocomelon is technically "safe," but it’s the digital equivalent of eating a bowl of pure sugar for breakfast.
This is for kids 7 and up. The "7" is there because this is the age where kids can start to distinguish between make-believe and reality.
- What to expect: "Fantasy violence." Characters might get hit with a giant hammer or shoot lasers, but they don't bleed.
- Examples: Avatar: The Last Airbender is a masterpiece in this category. Ninjago is also a staple here.
"General Audience." This isn't necessarily a "kids' show," but it’s considered safe for everyone. Think The Great British Baking Show. It’s wholesome, nobody is swearing, and the only "violence" is a collapsed soufflé.
This is where things get tricky. TV-PG means "Parental Guidance Suggested." In reality, this is the "Catch-All" bucket. It could mean The Simpsons (which has some pretty adult satire) or it could mean a nature documentary.
- Watch out for: The descriptors. If you see TV-PG-L, there’s some "hells" and "damns" coming your way.
- The Vibe: This is often the rating for "family" sitcoms that deal with dating, mild bullying, or "Ohio" levels of weirdness that might require a conversation.
Parents strongly cautioned. This is intended for kids 14 and older. In the streaming era, TV-14 has become incredibly "edgy."
- The Reality: Shows like Stranger Things or Wednesday are TV-14. They feature intense horror, gore, and complex themes. If your 10-year-old is asking to watch these because "everyone at school is," just know that TV-14 is basically what a PG-13 movie used to be, but with more room to push the envelope.
Mature Audiences Only. This is not for kids. Period. Graphic violence, explicit sex, and enough profanity to make a sailor blush.
- Examples: Game of Thrones or Squid Game.
- The Trap: Sometimes animated shows are TV-MA. Do not let the "cartoon" look fool you. Hazbin Hotel looks like a Disney movie on acid, but it is strictly for adults.
Underneath the main rating, you’ll often see tiny letters. These are actually more helpful than the rating itself:
- D (Suggestive Dialogue): Usually means "adult jokes" or innuendo.
- L (Language): Swearing. From "crap" to the "F-bomb" (though F-bombs usually trigger a TV-MA).
- S (Sexual Content): Anything from kissing to... much more.
- V (Violence): This ranges from "cartoon bonks" to "need a therapist" levels of gore.
Learn more about what "Suggestive Dialogue" actually sounds like
The biggest problem with ratings is Rating Creep. What was considered TV-14 ten years ago might be TV-PG today because we’ve become desensitized. Also, networks rate their own shows. They want the lowest rating possible to get the biggest audience.
And then there's YouTube. YouTube doesn't use the TV Parental Guidelines. A video of Skibidi Toilet isn't rated by a board; it's just... there. This is why a kid can go from watching Blippi to something genuinely disturbing in three clicks.
How to actually vet a show:
- Check the Screenwise WISE Score: We look at more than just "is there a bad word?" We look at the "brain rot" factor, the educational value, and the community consensus.
- The 10-Minute Rule: Watch the first 10 minutes of a new show with them. Usually, the "vibe" of a show is established early. If it feels too snarky, too violent, or just plain dumb, trust your gut.
- Read the Parent Reviews: Other parents are the best resource. If fifty parents say Caillou turned their kid into a whining machine, believe them.
Ages 2-5
Stick to TV-Y. Look for high-quality storytelling like Bluey or Puffin Rock. Avoid "surprise eggs" or "unboxing" videos on YouTube—they are designed to be addictive, not helpful.
Ages 6-9
TV-Y7 and TV-G are your sweet spots. This is a great time for The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (the book is amazing, and the movie is great too). You can start introducing TV-PG, but maybe watch it together first.
Ages 10-12
The "Tween" years. They want to watch TV-14. This is the time to negotiate. Maybe they can watch Stranger Things but you skip the really gory parts, or you watch it together so you can talk about the "scary" stuff.
Ages 13+
They’re likely seeing everything at this point. Focus less on the "rating" and more on the content. Are they watching something that’s teaching them to be a jerk, or something like The Good Place that actually makes them think about ethics?
In 2026, the rating on the screen matters less than the "Social Rating." If every kid in the 5th grade is talking about MrBeast or a specific TikTok trend, your kid is going to feel left out if they aren't in the loop.
Instead of just saying "No, it's rated TV-14," try: "I saw that show is rated for older kids because it's pretty violent. Let's look at a trailer together and see if it's something we're okay with."
Read our guide on how to talk to your kids about "scary" content
Ratings are a starting point, not a finish line. A "PG" rating doesn't mean a show is "good" for your kid—it just means it doesn't have a certain amount of blood or F-bombs.
You are the expert on your own kid. Some 8-year-olds can handle the fantasy peril of Harry Potter, while some 11-year-olds will have nightmares for weeks. Use the ratings to filter out the obvious "no's," but use Screenwise to find the "yes's."
- Audit your streaming settings: Most apps like Netflix allow you to set a hard "ceiling" (e.g., "Never show anything above TV-PG on this profile").
- Talk about the codes: Tell your kids what the ratings mean. It helps them build their own "internal filter."
- Check the WISE scores: Before you start a new series, search for it on Screenwise to see the real breakdown.
Check out our guide on setting up Netflix parental controls
Ask our chatbot for a recommendation for a family movie night