Clash of Clans

Zift Advisory

Clash of Clans is a gaming app in which players build and fortify villages, while also building an army to protect their clan. This app is free to download from iTunes and Google Play, though it offers in-app purchases. It is rated for everyone ages 10 and older, though the app requires users to be over age 13.

About Clash of Clans

What is Clash of Clans?

Clash of Clans is a strategic gaming app in which players build and fortify villages, while also building an army to protect their clan. Users play against both computer and real life, real-time players.

As the title suggests, much of Clash of Clans involves virtual warfare between tribes of people, which is exciting for players and includes violence. The violence includes fighting, explosions and soldiers’ cries, none of which are graphic.

Players choose to join and play with an existing clan or can they can create their own and invite friends. Clans can align with their members to strategically plan and launch attacks on other clans.

Clans are also tasked with defending their village from other clans with cannons, bombs, traps, mortars, and walls. Battles against other clans require strategy using any combination of spells, troops, and Heroes.

Is Clash of Clans safe for my kids?

The Clash of the Clans gaming app is safe for kids with some adult supervision. The app is rated for users 10+ but the terms of use require users to be 13 years or older.

The clan that a player chooses will dictate how safe their Clash of Clans game play is. Clans are servers, like may other real time games, and are typically themed. There are clans just for kids, or parents and kids. Many clans will advertise if there is no swearing allowed in their clan, which can help narrow down choices.

Creating your own, invite-only clan is a good option for younger players. This allows for more parental controls and monitoring. It’s important to note that if a child is not playing in an invite only clan, anyone may join that clan.

Clash of Clans is best played in multiplayer mode, which also poses the most risk to young children, due to the chat features throughout. Players may toggle between two chat options -- Global and Clan -- to interact with other players. Another scary feature is the ability for players to create a private chat room, which can be an issue for younger, unsuspecting players.

The Global chat feature allows users to report others, and those who violate the rules of conduct are temporarily booted from that particular server. It’s important to note that there is not a reporting feature within Clan chats, which makes choosing the appropriate clan for a child extremely important with this app.

Clash of Clans is ad-free, but offers in-app purchases to speed up and facilitate advancement through the game. If users want to play effectively and develop villages and armies at a faster rate, they must spend money on the game. Many players report high levels of frustration in game play because attempting to play for free will not get them as far in the game.