eSAFETY GUIDE

PlayStation

7+ to register an account with parental permission, 18+ to register an account without parental permission
+ 7+ to register an account with parental permission, 18+ to register an account without parental permission

What is PlayStation?

PlayStation is a video gaming brand that includes a range of popular gaming consoles, such as the PS4 and PS5. A PlayStation account lets you connect with other online gamers and purchase games from the PlayStation Store. Once an account is created, you can sign in with it on any PlayStation console.

PlayStation accounts include a number of different social features:

  • Players can add other players to their friends list. They can also become ‘close friends’, which shares their real name and profile picture, however, this option is not available for child accounts.
  • Players can send messages to their friends on their PlayStation console or via the PlayStation app.
  • Multiplayer games let you play with or against other people, either on the same PlayStation or over the internet. You may play with friends or be matched with others online.
  • There is a ‘party voice chat’ feature which is like a group phone call through PlayStation – you can create or join a ‘party’ and talk to people while gaming.
  • ‘Share Play’ lets you share a game with a friend online, even if they do not own the game. They can watch you play, take control of your game or play with you from their own PlayStation. Share Play sessions last for one hour and end automatically after this.
  • You can live stream your gameplay directly from your profile to platforms like Twitch and YouTube.

PlayStation Plus is a paid subscription that can be added to a PlayStation account. In order to play most online multiplayer games, you need a PlayStation Plus subscription. Depending on the subscription level, users may also get access to monthly games, discounts and exclusive previews of new release games.

PlayStation’s rules say that people under 18 must have a ‘Child Family Member Account’. To set this up, a parent or carer needs their own PlayStation account first. They can then use this account to help set up their child’s account. Parental controls can be used on child accounts.

Website: playstation.com

Apps: Android app, Apple iOS

How do people use PlayStation?

Learn more about the benefits and risks associated with how people use gaming services like PlayStation.

PlayStation is used for: content creation, gaming, immersive technologies, in-app purchasing, live streaming, location sharing, messaging/online chat, online relationships, screen capture, video calling and voice chat.

How can you report online abuse or block someone?

These links are provided by PlayStation:

How can you protect your personal information?

These links are provided by PlayStation:

  • Privacy settings
    Learn how to control who can see and communicate with you on PlayStation.
  • Account security
    Learn about account security and privacy on PlayStation.
  • Privacy Policy
    Outlines how your information is collected, stored and used on PlayStation.

Key safety links

These links are provided by PlayStation:

Related eSafety links

Find other resources to help keep you safe online:

Other eSafety Guides:

Social media changes

From 10 December 2025, certain social media platforms are not allowed to let Australian children under 16 create or keep an account.

Find out more at eSafety’s social media age restrictions hub.

About The eSafety Guide

The eSafety Guide helps you find out how to protect your personal information and report harmful content on common social media, games, apps and sites. Entries are for information only and are not reviews, endorsements or assessments against any legislative definition by eSafety. Before choosing to use any online service or platform it’s best to:

  • do your own research to understand the risks and benefits
  • check the age rating and requirements
  • consider privacy
  • check the permissions and other settings
  • check the in-app reporting options.

If you are a parent or carer who is deciding whether a child should be allowed to use an online service or platform, you can also:

  • consider your child's readiness for the types of content and experiences they might encounter
  • help them understand what to do if they need help
  • provide ongoing support and monitoring, for example through regular check-ins with your child
  • agree to some rules about use of each service or platform.

To find out more, you can read the App checklist for parents, as well as information about parental controls in social media, games and apps and mental wellbeing resources for families.