PlayStation rules for younger players

What players under 18 years old need to know before going online with PlayStation.

Before you start using PlayStation

Read this before you start using PlayStation - it will help you have a better time playing online.
Talk to the adult who usually looks after you (we’ll call them your Responsible Adult) about using PlayStation and what you want to do.

What can I do on PlayStation?

With an account for PlayStation, if your Responsible Adult gives you permission to sign up, you may be able to:

  • Play games online.
  • Chat and message with friends.
  • Share your videos and pictures and see other peoples’ videos and pictures.
  • Buy and download or stream games.
  • Buy and download movies and tv shows.

Your Responsible Adult may choose to limit some of these activities so talk to them about what you can and cannot do with your account.

How do I get onto PlayStation?

First, you’ll need your Responsible Adult to say it’s OK to sign up.

With their help, you can create your account. Just choose ‘New user’ and follow the instructions to set up a child account. Your Responsible Adult will need to set up a Family Manager account if they haven’t already.

When you create your account, it’s important that everything you tell us is true, especially your birthday – don’t pretend to be older than you are. 

Our top 3 rules

Don’t try to buy anything without permission

Never use  anyone else’s bank card or payment account unless they are with you and they have said it’s OK. If you want to buy something, ask your Responsible Adult first. 

Be kind. Never be mean to people or make fun of them. 

Never call other people names.

Never threaten them that you or someone else is going to hurt them.

Never make fun of them for being different to you. That means not being  mean because of things like the colour of people’s skin, their religion, gender, or sexual orientation, where they live or how much money they have.

Be discreet. Don’t tell anyone on PlayStation too much about yourself.

Do not tell people your real name, social media handles, where you live or where you go to school. Do not send anyone pictures of yourself or anyone else.

Never go to meet anyone online in real life.

There are a lot more rules for using PlayStation in our Code of Conduct.
Again,  ask your Responsible Adult to read it to you when you join and explain anything you don’t understand.

What if I break the rules?

We can limit your account, communication features, and device. 

That means you won’t be able to play your games online or use chat. You can  also lose your V-Bucks and FIFA Points and other things you have bought.

We could tell the police

If you do something very serious, we’ll let the police know.

PlayStation Store

PlayStation Store is our shop for games, movies and many other things that you can buy and download.  Just like with other things you do on PlayStation, there are some rules for using your account to buy things from us:

  • BEFORE you buy anything, you must make sure your Responsible Adult gives you permission to spend their money
  • If you change your mind about something you bought from us or bought something by mistake, do not download it. Tell your Responsible Adult immediately. They can check the Store Cancellation Policy to see if you can get your money back.
  • If something you bought does not work, tell your Responsible Adult immediately. They can check the full Terms and work out what to do.
  • Some games connect you to PlayStation Store to buy things. They usually show you what you can buy and show you the price before sending you to PlayStation Store to buy it. Then they take you back to the game. What you bought will be in-game to use immediately. You can only get your money back if it does not work.

Game shops, V-Bucks, FIFA Points and other Virtual Currencies

Some games use made-up money called “Virtual Currency”. Things like ‘V-Bucks’ are examples of Virtual Currency. You need to know that:

  • You cannot take V-Bucks and other Virtual Currency out of the game.
  • Sometimes you get Virtual Currency by doing things in a game. For example, finishing a level, finding items in game, winning a match and things like that.
  • You can also buy Virtual Currency with real money.
  • Every time you buy Virtual Currency it has a real-world price which your Responsible Adult has to pay. Be careful how many V-Bucks and other Virtual Currency you use. Do not buy more Virtual Currency without checking with your Responsible Adult.

There are a lot more rules for using PlayStation but following these 3 rules are the most important. Ask your Responsible Adult to read the full Terms with you when you join and explain anything you don’t understand.

What else do I need to know?

  • If people are mean or do things you don’t like on PlayStation, you can stop the person from contacting you by blocking or muting them. You can also tell us, by using our grief reporting tool, so we can take action if they broke our rules.
  • You and your Responsible Adult can find out how to block or report another user in our Help and Support section here.

How do I contact you?

The best way to contact us is via our website at: www.playstation.com/support. You may also reach us by phone at 800-345-7669.

You can also write to us at:

Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC

2207 Bridgepointe Parkway

San Mateo, CA 94404.