Looking for the most popular and fun apps for teens? Look no further! In the below article, we’ve curated a list of the top 14 apps that cater to the interests of teenagers from ages between thirteen and seventeen. From social media platforms and art tools to gaming and educational tools, these apps are sure to keep teens entertained and engaged. Let’s dive in!
As tech reviewers and parents, our team understands the importance of finding engaging and age-appropriate apps for teenagers who are attracted to social media and usually have a low attention span.
With so many options available in Apple and Android stores, it can be overwhelming for parents or teenagers to determine which apps suit their age group. Parents should supervise young teens to block any appropriate apps or content that could jeopardize their online safety.
That’s why we at ParentalDaily, have compiled a list of the 14 most popular and fun apps for teenagers aged 12 to 17 after testing all of these apps for 2-3 hours.
Our team consists of parenting writers and individuals with personal experiences with teenagers, such as Gurmeet Kaur and Parmjit Kaur, who shared their insights throughout this article.
1. TikTok
Why Do We Recommend this App?
Over the last few years, TikTok has taken the world by storm (over 1.677 billion users as of 2023), offering a platform for teens to create and share short videos in a short period as opposed to youtube, where you have to post long videos to get user retention.
It encourages creativity and self-expression, allowing teenagers to showcase their talents, hobbies, and interests. The app also offers a wide range of entertaining content for users.
Best For
Teens who enjoy creating and watching short videos, exploring various trends, and connecting with others with similar interests.
Features:
- Tiktok offers various Video editing tools, effects, and filters.
- Its diverse content ranges from dance challenges and comedy to lip-syncing and educational videos.
- Interaction with other users through comments, likes, and shares.
Parental Guidance
While TikTok can be a fun and creative outlet for teenagers, we advise parents must monitor their child’s activity (especially younger teens) due to potential privacy concerns and exposure to inappropriate content.
Setting up privacy settings, time limits, use parental controls apps, and open discussions about online safety is crucial. You should also teach your kids about internet safety and keep them safe from cyberbullying.
Age Recommendation and Rating: Recommended for ages 13 and older and rated 12+ on app stores.
Personal Experience
Gurmeet Kaur’s daughter loves spending her free time on TikTok, exploring new dance challenges, and showcasing her artistic side by creating lip-sync videos. Gurmeet ensures her daughter understands the importance of responsible usage and stays safe while using the app.
2. Snapchat
Why Do We Recommend this App?
Snapchat is a popular messaging app known for its disappearing photo and video messages? It offers a fun and interactive way for teens to communicate with friends through visual content.
Best For
Teens who enjoy connecting with friends, sharing moments through photos and videos, and exploring creative filters and lenses.
Features:
- Disappearing messages and stories
- Wide range of filters, lenses, and augmented reality (AR) effects
- Chatting and video calling features
Parental Guidance
Snapchat provides features like Snap Map, which allows users to share their location with friends. Parents must guide their teens on snapchat privacy settings and discuss the importance of cautiously sharing location information.
Age Recommendation and Rating: Recommended for ages 13 and older and rated 12+ on app stores.
Personal Experience
Parmjit Kaur’s 14-year-old niece enjoys using Snapchat to connect with her friends. Parmjit has had open conversations with her niece about privacy settings and reminds her to only communicate with people she knows.
Related Articles
Check out our article on the Best Books for New Parents and Best Parenting Books for evidence-based parenting advice. We’ve compiled the 15 Best Parenting Books for growing strong and confident kids. Explore our articles on the Best Apps for Positive Parenting and the Best Co-Parenting App to complement your parenting journey.
3. Instagram
Why Do We Recommend this App?
Instagram is a popular social media platform that allows teens to share photos and videos, follow their favorite celebrities, and discover new interests through visual content.
Best For
Teens who enjoy photography, exploring various interests, and following influencers or friends.
Features
- Photo and video sharing
- Stories and highlights
- Explore page to discover new content
Parental Guidance
Instagram provides direct messaging features, so parents must discuss online safety with their teens and encourage responsible usage. Monitoring privacy settings and discussing the impact of likes and comments can also be beneficial.
Age Recommendation and Rating: Recommended for ages 13 and older and rated 12+ on app stores.
Personal Experience
Parmjit Kaur’s nephew uses Instagram to share his photography skills with a broader audience. Parmjit regularly checks in with him to ensure he understands the importance of responsible usage and maintaining a positive online presence.
4. Minecraft
Why Do We Recommend this App?
For the parents who don’t know – Minecraft is a popular sandbox game that allows teens to unleash their creativity and build virtual worlds using blocks. It teaches kids the fundamentals of programming skills, teamwork, and problem-solving.
It offers endless possibilities for exploration, collaboration, and problem-solving. Minecraft is also good for the hippocampus, which regulates learning, memory encoding, and spatial navigation.
Best For
Teens who enjoy building, crafting, and exploring virtual landscapes.
Features
- Creative mode for unlimited building
- Survival mode with challenges and resource gathering
- Multiplayer mode for collaborative play
Parental Guidance
Parents should encourage a balance between screen time and other activities. Minecraft also offers online multiplayer, so discussing internet safety and appropriate behavior with teens is essential.
Age Recommendation and Rating: Recommended for ages ten and older and rated 10+ on app stores.
Related Articles
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5. Among Us
Why Do We Recommend this App?
Among Us is a team favorite here at Parentaldaily, a thrilling multiplayer game that involves teamwork, deception, and deduction. If you know the “Sidemen,” a youtube group, they are famous for playing AmongUS with their friends generating millions of views.
Teens can enjoy playing with friends and sharpen their social and strategic skills.
Best For
Among Us is best for teens who enjoy interactive and social gameplay experiences.
Features:
- Multiplayer game with up to 10 players
- Communication and teamwork to uncover impostors
- Customization options for characters
Parental Guidance
Among Us involves online interactions, so parents must discuss internet safety, appropriate behavior, and the importance of fair play with their teens.
Age Recommendation and Rating: Recommended for ages ten and older and rated 9+ on app stores.
6. Roblox
Why Do We Recommend this App?
Roblox is one of the biggest virtual platforms allowing teens to create, play, and share games with a global community.
We recommend parents let their children use this platform as it nurtures creativity, game development skills, and social interaction. Roblolox also provides excellent safety mechanisms and parental controls to protect teenagers online from inappropriate content and cyberbullying.
Best For
Teens who enjoy game creation, exploration, and connecting with others.
Features
- Game creation tools and development community
- Wide variety of user-generated games
- Avatar customization options
Parental Guidance
While Roblox fosters creativity, parents must monitor their teens‘ interactions and encourage responsible use because the Roblox platform has inappropriate content. Parents must also discuss in-app purchases and appropriate behavior within the community th their kids to teach them how to keep themselves safe online.
Age Recommendation and Rating: Recommended for ages ten and older and rated 12+ on app stores.
7. Spotify
Why Do We Recommend this App?
Spotify is a popular music streaming app that offers a vast library of songs, playlists, and podcasts. It allows teens to discover new music, curated playlists, and share their favorite tracks with friends.
Best For
Teens who love music, discovering new artists and creating personalized playlists.
Features
- Extensive music library with a wide range of genres
- Curated playlists and personalized recommendations
- Podcasts and audio content
Parental Guidance
Parents can guide their teens on setting appropriate privacy settings and discuss responsible music consumption, such as avoiding explicit content and respecting copyright laws.
Age Recommendation and Rating: Recommended for ages 12 and older and rated 12+ on app stores.
8. Duolingo
Why Do We Recommend this App?
Duolingo is a language learning app that makes learning a new language fun and interactive. It offers bite-sized lessons, gamification elements, and a user-friendly interface. Kids can also improve their reading skills using Duolingo or other recommended reading apps.
Best For
Teens interested in learning a new language or improving their language skills.
Features:
- Interactive language lessons
- Gamification elements, such as streaks and achievements
- Vocabulary practice and speaking exercises
Parental Guidance
Parents can support their teens by setting language learning goals and monitoring their progress. Regular conversations about the importance of language learning can also be beneficial.
Age Recommendation and Rating: Recommended for ages ten and older and rated 4+ on app stores.
Personal Experience
Parmjit Kaur’s nephew uses Duolingo to learn Spanish as an extracurricular activity. Parmjit appreciates the app’s use of language learning and motivates her nephew to practice regularly.
9. Khan Academy
Why Do We Recommend this App?
Khan Academy is an exceptional educational app for kids and teens. It provides many free online courses and lessons and helps busy parents teach their kids about science, maths, social behavior, and many other subjects.
We highly advise parents to download and use this app with their kids because it offers interactive materials and practice exercises to support learning in various subjects.
Best For
Our editors here at Parentaldaily recommend it to Teens who want to supplement their academic knowledge, explore new subjects, or enhance their skills.
Features
- Educational videos and tutorials
- Practice exercises and quizzes
- Progress tracking and personalized learning paths
Parental Guidance
Parents can encourage their teens to explore subjects of interest and set learning goals. Monitoring progress and discussing the importance of continuous learning can be beneficial.
Age Recommendation and Rating: Recommended for ages 13 and older and rated 4+ on app stores.
Personal Experience
Parmjit Kaur’s nephew uses Khan Academy to reinforce his understanding of math concepts. Parmjit appreciates how the app provides clear explanations and additional practice opportunities.
Related Articles
Explore our 10 Best Books for 12-Year-Olds article. For those with toddlers, our article The 10 Best Parenting Books for Toddlers offers expert advice on navigating tantrums.
10. Headspace
Why Do We Recommend this App?
Parmjit Kaur, Parental content head at Parentaldaily, says that Headspace is a meditation and mindfulness app (improves attention and behavior) that provides guided meditation sessions, sleep sounds, and relaxation exercises. Some research has shown that meditation and mindfulness help with ADHD, anxiety, depression, sleep, behavior problems, and eating disorders in kids, teens, and adults.
It promotes mental well-being and helps teens manage stress and anxiety.
Best For
Teens who want to incorporate mindfulness and meditation into their daily routine.
Features:
- Guided meditation sessions for various purposes
- Sleep sounds and music for relaxation
- Mindfulness exercises for stress management
Parental Guidance
Parents can encourage their teens to practice mindfulness and discuss the benefits of self-care. Participating i
Personal Experience
Parmjit Kaur’s niece uses Headspace to unwind and practice mindfulness before bed. Parmjit occasionally joins her for meditation sessions, and they both find it helpful in promoting a sense of calmness.
Age Recommendation and Rating: Recommended for ages 12 and older and rated 4+ on app stores.
11. Netflix
Why Do We Recommend this App?
Netflix is a popular streaming platform that offers many movies, TV shows, and documentaries, including Rue: Magical Friends, Justin Time, Deepa & Anoop, and Treehouse Detectives. It provides many entertainment options for teens to enjoy during their leisure time.
Best For: Teens who enjoy watching movies, TV series, and documentaries.
Features:
- Extensive library of movies and TV shows
- Personalized recommendations based on viewing history
- Offline download feature for on-the-go entertainment
Parental Guidance
Parents can discuss appropriate content choices with their teens and set limits on screen time. It’s essential to have conversations about responsible viewing and understanding age ratings.
Age Recommendation and Rating: Recommended for ages 13 and older and rated 17+ on app stores.
Personal Experience
Gurmeet Kaur’s daughter enjoys watching her favorite shows and movies on Netflix. Gurmeet ensures that they watch age-appropriate content together and discuss the themes portrayed.
12. Pinterest
Why Do We Recommend this App? Pinterest is a visual discovery platform that allows teens to explore and collect ideas for various interests, including fashion, home decor, recipes, and more. It offers inspiration and a space for creativity.
Best For
Teens who enjoy exploring and collecting ideas for their hobbies, interests, and plans.
Features:
- Collections of visual content, such as images and videos
- Ability to save and organize ideas into boards
- Discover new content based on interests
Parental Guidance
Parents can engage with their teens on Pinterest, exploring their interests and discussing the value of creativity. Monitoring the content they save and interact with is essential to ensure appropriateness.
Age Recommendation and Rating: Recommended for ages 13 and older and rated 12+ on app stores.
Personal Experience
Parmjit Kaur’s niece uses Pinterest to gather ideas for art projects and fashion inspiration. Parmjit encourages her niece to curate boards that reflect her style and interests.
13. Wattpad
Why Do We Recommend this App?
Wattpad is a platform for reading and sharing stories written by authors worldwide. It allows teens to explore different genres, connect with writers, and publish their own stories.
Best For
Teens who enjoy reading and writing stories and connecting with a writing community.
Features:
- Access to a wide range of stories in various genres
- Ability to interact with authors and fellow readers
- Option to write and publish stories
Parental Guidance
Parents can discuss the importance of safe online interactions, respecting intellectual property, and understanding the community guidelines on Wattpad.
Age Recommendation and Rating: Recommended for ages 13 and older and rated 17+ on app stores.
14. Adobe Photoshop Express
Why Do We Recommend this App?
Adobe Photoshop Express is a powerful photo editing app allowing teens to enhance and manipulate photos. It offers a range of creative tools to bring out their artistic vision.
Best For
Teens who enjoy photography and want to experiment with photo editing.
Features
- Essential editing tools, such as cropping, filters, and adjustments
- Advanced features like spot healing and noise reduction
- Creative effects and overlays
Parental Guidance
Parents can encourage their teens’ creativity and discuss responsible photo editing practices. It’s important to have conversations about digital manipulation and the importance of authenticity.
Age Recommendation and Rating: Recommended for ages 12 and older and rated 4+ on app stores.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Apple and Android store offers many apps for 13 to 17-year-old teens that can engage and entertain teens while providing opportunities for growth and learning.
From social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to creative platforms like Minecraft and Roblox to educational apps like Khanacademy and Wattpad, these apps cater to the diverse interests of teens aged 12 to 17.
However, it’s essential for parents and guardians to actively participate in their teens’ digital lives, to discuss online safety with them, responsible usage (you can set house rules and phone rules), and to set appropriate boundaries including limiting screen time after school.
Our team at ParentalDaily, including Gurmeet Kaur, a parenting writer, and Parmjit Kaur, with her personal experiences through her nephew and niece, understand the significance of guiding and monitoring our teens’ app usage. By balancing exploration and responsible use, we can ensure these apps become valuable tools for entertainment, creativity, education, and social interaction.
It’s essential to have open and ongoing conversations with your teen, understand their preferences, and be aware of the content they consume. Together, we can navigate the digital world and help our teens make the most of these popular and fun apps while keeping their well-being and safety in mind.
