The New York Times – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The New York Times

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2010

90%

WISE Score

4.8

App Store

Serious news without the algorithmic sludge, plus a Learning Network built to make kids sharper readers.

The New York Times

app

Everyone 10+, 2010

90%

WISE Score

4.8

App Store

Serious news without the algorithmic sludge, plus a Learning Network built to make kids sharper readers.

Jump to

Also rated on

Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

If you’re looking for the antidote to the 15-second-video-clip-of-nonsense diet, this is it. The New York Times app isn't just a place to check the news; it's a high-calorie reading environment that builds the kind of 'Reading Rope' strands—vocabulary and background knowledge—that schools often skip.

While most news apps are designed to keep you clicking until you're angry, the NYT (especially the Learning Network) is designed to keep you reading until you're informed. It requires more effort than a social feed, but for an intentional family, that's a feature, not a bug.

Age Fit

Perfect for middle and high schoolers (11+) ready to graduate from 'kid news' to the real thing. Younger kids can still dive into the Learning Network's picture-based prompts with a parent.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Professional, calm, and intellectually rigorous. While the news itself can be heavy, the presentation is the opposite of the chaotic, high-arousal 'brain rot' found on social feeds.

Imaginative

The Learning Network features like 'What’s Going On in This Graph?' and creative writing prompts turn passive consumption into an active, investigative process.

Safe

No predatory ads, no manipulative IAPs, and strictly moderated comments for the 13+ crowd. The only 'danger' is exposure to the real world (war, politics), which is the point.

Enriching

It is essentially a masterclass in vocabulary, background knowledge, and media literacy. The Learning Network is one of the few digital tools that actually justifies the screen time.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Media literacy is the core mission here, teaching kids to tell the difference between reported facts and opinion pieces.
The Learning Network is a goldmine of free resources, from daily writing prompts to student contests that give kids a real audience for their work.
It builds background knowledge across science, tech, and the arts, which is the 'secret sauce' for high-level reading comprehension.
Data literacy is baked in through interactive infographics that challenge kids to interpret what the numbers actually mean.

⚠

What to Watch For

The paywall is real. While the Learning Network has free sections, a full digital subscription is usually required for unlimited access to the main app.
Hard news means photos and stories about war, crime, and social unrest. It's the real world, but younger or more sensitive kids might need you to curate the front page.
The 13+ comment rule is strictly enforced. It's a great 'training wheels' social space, but kids under 13 are mostly limited to reading, not posting.

Conversation Starters

"Which headline today seems the most important, and which one is just 'clicky'?"
"If you were the editor, which story would you put at the very top of the page?"
"Why do you think the photographer chose to take this specific picture for this story?"
"Does this article feel like it's trying to make you feel a certain way, or just give you facts?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic