Squid Game is a South Korean survival drama that became Netflix's biggest show ever in 2021. The premise: 456 desperate people in massive debt compete in children's games (Red Light Green Light, tug-of-war, marbles) for a 45.6 billion won prize. The twist? Lose and you die. Violently. On screen.

It's a social commentary on capitalism, inequality, and desperation wrapped in a Battle Royale-style thriller. Think The Hunger Games meets Black Mirror, but significantly more graphic.

The show went viral partly because of its distinctive visual style (those colorful tracksuits and geometric sets) and partly because of TikTok. Kids were recreating the "Red Light, Green Light" game at school, Halloween costumes were everywhere, and suddenly elementary schoolers were asking about a show featuring hundreds of brutal deaths.

Here's what different countries decided:

The inconsistency is wild, right? A 15-year-old in the UK can officially watch it, but it's rated for adults in South Korea where it was made. This happens because different countries weight content differently—some focus more on violence, others on sexual content or themes.

Common Sense Media (the go-to for many parents) rates it 16+, acknowledging that some mature teens might handle it but emphasizing the extreme content.

The rating isn't arbitrary. Here's what actually happens in the show:

This isn't stylized Marvel violence or off-screen Game of Thrones battles. It's visceral, realistic, and designed to be disturbing.

Frequent strong profanity throughout (though this varies by dub vs. subtitles—the English dub is often harsher than the Korean audio with English subtitles).

Let's be real: if your teen hasn't seen it, they've definitely heard about it. Here's why it became the most-watched Netflix show ever:

Social currency: Not watching it meant being left out of conversations at school, online, everywhere. The memes, the references, the Halloween costumes—it was inescapable in 2021 and is back with Season 2.

It's actually good: Unlike some viral content that's just shock value, Squid Game is well-written, beautifully shot, and raises interesting questions about morality, capitalism, and human nature. Smart teens recognize quality storytelling.

The aesthetic: Those pink guards, the colorful sets, the children's game nostalgia—it's visually distinctive in a way that makes great content for social media.

Forbidden fruit: When something is rated mature, teens want it more. That's just developmental psychology.

The rating exists for a reason, but you know your teen better than any rating system does. Here are the actual questions to ask yourself:

If they've watched The Hunger Games movies, Game of Thrones, or played Call of Duty, they've seen violence. But Squid Game's violence is more realistic and psychologically intense than most of those. The deaths aren't heroic or fantastical—they're desperate and brutal.

Some 15-year-olds can watch, discuss, and contextualize heavy content. Others have nightmares or anxiety from less intense shows. You know which camp your kid falls into.

This is huge. Watching it together means you can pause for discussions, gauge their reactions, and provide context for the social commentary. It also means you're there for the sexual assault scene in episode 4 (which... awkward, but better than them processing it alone).

If you say no, will they watch it at a friend's house? On their phone at 2am? At least if they watch at home, you're part of the conversation. I'm not saying cave to peer pressure, but factor in reality.

"Everyone else has seen it" is different from "I'm interested in Korean cinema" or "I want to understand the social commentary." The motivation matters for your decision and the conversation around it.

Under 13: Hard no. The violence is too graphic, the themes too mature, and the psychological intensity too much. If they're asking because of TikTok or friends, talk about why ratings exist and offer age-appropriate alternatives.

13-15: Probably not, but maybe for very mature 15-year-olds with parental co-viewing. If you do allow it, watch together and be prepared to skip episode 4's assault scene. Have conversations after each episode about the themes, the violence, and the social commentary.

16-17: This is the sweet spot where the rating lands in most countries. Still recommend co-viewing or at least regular check-ins. Use it as an opportunity to discuss capitalism, desperation, morality under pressure, and media literacy.

18+: They're adults. But even adult viewers found it disturbing, so don't be surprised if they want to talk about it.

1. Preview it yourself first Watch at least the first episode (the most violent) and episode 4 (the assault scene) so you know exactly what you're approving. The trailer doesn't capture the intensity.

2. Set up co-viewing Make it a family viewing experience (for older teens). Pause for discussions, ask what they think about characters' choices, talk about the social commentary.

3. Establish boundaries Maybe you watch it together but they can't rewatch alone. Maybe you skip episode 4 entirely. Maybe you watch with the English subtitles instead of the dub to reduce the profanity impact.

4. Create discussion space After each episode: "What would you have done in that situation?" "Why do you think the character made that choice?" "What is the show trying to say about society?"

5. Monitor their reaction If they're having nightmares, anxious thoughts, or seem disturbed, stop watching. No show is worth your kid's mental health.

Be honest about why: "The violence is too graphic for our family right now" is better than "because I said so." Teens can handle honest conversations about content concerns.

Acknowledge the FOMO: "I know it's hard when everyone's talking about it. That's frustrating." Validation goes a long way.

Offer alternatives:

Set a timeline: "When you're 16, we can revisit this" gives them something to look forward to and shows you're not dismissing them.

Explain the content specifically: Don't just say "it's too violent." Describe what actually happens so they understand it's not arbitrary. Teens respect specificity.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: studies suggest that a significant percentage of middle schoolers have already watched Squid Game, despite the rating. It went viral on TikTok, the playground games became trends, and peer pressure is real.

Your kid might be the only one who hasn't seen it. That sucks for them, genuinely. But "everyone else is doing it" has never been a great parenting compass, and you're not responsible for other parents' choices.

That said, you can help them navigate the social aspect:

Season 2 just released with the same rating and similar content. If you let your teen watch Season 1, they'll expect to watch Season 2. Set those expectations now.

The good news: if they handled Season 1 well, Season 2 is comparable. The bad news: it's still extremely violent and disturbing. Same rules apply.

The rating is earned. Squid Game is genuinely one of the most violent shows on mainstream streaming, with graphic deaths, sexual assault, and intense psychological themes. It's not Euphoria-style "teens doing drugs" mature content—it's "people dying horribly" mature content.

But it's also smart, well-made, and culturally significant. For older teens (16-17+) who can handle intense content, it can be a valuable viewing experience with the right framing and discussion.

The decision tree:

Whatever you decide, make it a conscious choice based on your specific teen, not just the rating or peer pressure. And if you say yes, be involved in the viewing experience. The show raises important questions about society, morality, and human nature—questions worth discussing with your teen rather than letting them process alone at 2am on their phone.

If you're still deciding: Watch the first episode yourself before making the call. The violence in episode 1 sets the tone for the whole series.

If you said yes: Set up a co-viewing schedule and prepare discussion questions for after each episode.

If you said no: Check out these alternatives to Squid Game that offer similar themes with less graphic content.

If they watched it anyway: Don't panic. Here's how to have the conversation about trust, boundaries, and why you set the rules you did.

Want to understand what else your teen is watching and how it compares to their peers? Take the Screenwise survey to see how your family's media habits stack up against your community.