Is Crunchyroll Safe? An Overview for Parents
Crunchyroll is one of the fastest-growing anime sites globally, with its paid subscribers tripling to over 15 million between August 2021 and June 2024.
Founded in 2006, Crunchyroll initially started as a site for pirated content, filled with a lot of unreviewed material, which raised many concerns. Then, in early 2009, Crunchyroll pledged to remove all copyright-infringing content from its site. But does this mean Crunchyroll is safe? Could it still have negative impacts on children, teenagers, and content creators?
We explore this question to help you know whether you should use the anime streaming site.
Part 1. What Is Crunchyroll?
Crunchyroll is a subscription video-on-demand (VOD) streaming platform focusing on anime, manga, and East Asian content.
Apart from streaming, Crunchyroll organizes events, distributes theatre content, sells merchandise and collectibles, and develops mobile games. The platform offers freemium access with ads.
For ad-free experience and simulcast streaming, users can subscribe to the Fan, Mega Fan, or Ultimate Fan packages for $7.99, $9.99, and $14.99 per month. Premium members also enjoy other perks, such as access to exclusive content, higher content resolutions, offline viewing, and multiple-device streaming.
Background and Ownership of Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll was initially founded in 2006 as a platform for hosting user-uploaded content, which included a significant amount of unlicensed East Asian media, such as dramas and anime. This led to its reputation as a site that infringed on copyrights, drawing criticism and skepticism from content creators.
In 2007, after receiving an investment of over $4 million from Venrock, Crunchyroll decided to reform and shift its business model to focus on legally licensed content. It began partnering with content creators and distributors to provide legitimate streaming services, transforming into a legal platform for anime and other media. Sony acquired Crunchyroll in 2021, becoming its current owner.
As Crunchyroll continues to grow, it has attracted an increasing number of users from different age groups and regions. Let's take a look at their main audience demographics.
Target Audience of Crunchyroll
As of June 2024, Crunchyroll has over 15 million paid subscribers and receives more than 140 million visits per month, with a significant number of viewers from the United States, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, and France. The video streaming platform attracts a large audience of young fans aged 18 to 34, who make up nearly three-quarters of Crunchyroll's user base.
Crunchyroll's audience is over 67% male and about 32% female. While the Crunchyroll's audience main focus is on anime, interest in video games is also growing.
It is worth noting that although Crunchyroll's primary target audience is adults, there are no age restrictions in the registration process; an account can be created with just an email address. Therefore, even if the survey data does not include minors, it is hard to believe that Crunchyroll's user base completely lacks underage viewers, as anime audiences tend to be younger.
A survey on Reddit indicates that over 53% of people started watching anime before the age of 14.
Part 2. Is Crunchyroll Safe?
The question "Is Crunchyroll Safe?" is quite broad, involving the overall safety of using Crunchyroll, including its suitability for different age groups, the legality of its content, and other potential factors. For some users, it may be very safe, while for others, there may be potential threats. Considering the varying perspectives, assessing different aspects of Crunchyroll is essential.
1. Is There Any 18+ Content in Crunchyroll?
For parents, whether something is suitable for children is the most important concern. Before discussing whether Crunchyroll contains any 18+ content, let's first understand the content rating definitions for different age groups:
- 0+: This means the content is suitable for all audiences. However, parental guidance (PG) is always advised, especially for toddlers.
- 8+: Such classification usually includes mild adult language, non-sensual partial nudity, minor violence, and may contain casual smoking or drinking from adults.
- 13+: Usually teenage-themed content with mild adult language, nudity, and sexual themes. This classification may also include more intense themes, such as teen romance, peer pressure, or risky behaviors, though without explicit sexual content or extreme violence.
- 18+: In some regions like Indonesia, UAE, and Kazakhstan, this can be rated 21+. The content is restricted to adults only and contains sexual, violent, drug abuse, and bloody themes.
Based on this information, a quick search on Crunchyroll official website reveals that there are indeed some 18+ content not suitable for children. Even if it doesn't contain explicit adult anime, there are many themes appropriate only for adults, such as violence, gore, and soft-core content.
While Crunchyroll does its best to ensure that content is correctly classified and regulated, inappropriate material can slip through the moderation filters. This poses the risk of exposing children to content that may not be suitable for their age.
In conclusion, the Crunchyroll platform is not safe for kids to use independently; it should be used under the guidance of parents or guardians.
2. Is the Content Copyrighted and Legally Licensed?
If you are a consumer who avoids using pirated content or a brand looking to advertise on Crunchyroll, you might be concerned about whether the content on Crunchyroll is copyright-protected and legally licensed.
Crunchyroll claims to follow the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) and calls any creators who identify any infringement case to file a complaint. However, considering Crunchyroll started out as a pirate site, there are questions about the legality of some of the content on the site.
In its early days, Crunchyroll was indeed involved in some copyright controversies. However, after 2009, Crunchyroll shifted to licensed content.
2009 was the turning point for Crunchyroll when they announced plans to remove all copyright-infringing videos. The same year, the company announced its first legal distribution agreement with Gonzo for several titles. Later, Crunchyroll focused on streaming legally licensed anime and pop culture content, no longer allowing users to freely upload unreviewed content.
Today, piracy remains one of the primary challenges in the $30 billion anime industry. Crunchyroll has done its best to play on the safe side of the law, and looking at the records, most, if not all, of its content is legally licensed and copyrighted.
3. Is The Platform Secure?
If you are curious whether Crunchyroll is secure, you are in the right place. In terms of technical security, Crunchyroll is a safe platform. Crunchyroll is committed to protecting user data and privacy, and it currently has strong capabilities to guard against hacking.
In 2017, Crunchyroll experienced a DNS hijacking that led to the distribution of malware and ransomware requisition through a site that mimicked the official site. While this issue was fixed quickly, it raised questions about the platform's safety. Since then, Crunchyroll has taken measures to ensure the safety of its website and app.
It is worth noting that malware attacks are common, even among the best websites. However, there are also possible attacks on personal accounts. To enhance your Crunchyroll account security, do the following:
- Have a strong password
- Activate two-factor authentication
- Avoid sharing your login credentials
- Avoid accessing your account on the public internet
- Regularly update your password to reduce security risks
- Be cautious of phishing attempts and suspicious emails that may seek to compromise your account
Following these measures guarantees the safety of your Crunchyroll account since these are the most common areas of compromise.
4. What Users Say?
After reading some reviews written by the editor, you can check out how other users have answered the question "Is Crunchyroll safe?" on various forums. Here are some opinions found on Quora and Reddit.
On Reddit:
"You can turn off mature content in the settings but that only hides the really mature ones its not remotely like child proofing." mikyas2.
"Nope its not 18+is turned on automatically and im not sure if you can turn it off its not for kids honestly im not sure what anime even is for kids." [deleted].
On Quora:
"...However, I would say it is, in general, post-watershed material, and for adults and young adults. They’re not cartoons and not intended for children. "Hanbury Hampden-Turner.
"Apart from Hulu and Funimation, it's the only internationally accepted official anime-watching site. So, it needs to be safe and privacy-friendly...", Katsuki Bakugo.
5. For whom is Crunchyroll safe?
After analyzing the impacts from different perspectives, we can conclude that although Crunchyroll is an excellent streaming service platform, it is not safe for children. In addition to containing a large amount of content intended for adults only, excessive viewing of online anime can also be harmful to children.
How Does 18+ Content Affect Children?
From gore to violence and soft pornography anime or games, this content can have a lifelong impact on children. According to a report by Ofcom, 73% of parents were concerned about their children's exposure to adult content online, unlike in traditional media.
The growing concern among parents is warranted, with 93% of boys and 63% of girls reporting exposure to pornography before turning 18. The results are long-term consequences and unhealthy coping mechanisms like drug abuse and promiscuity. If such statistics are anything to go by, parents should take control over the type of content their children are exposed to, even on Crunchyroll.
Because a child's brain can't fully process the sexual or violent escapades in movies, they are likely to engage in sexual harassment, early sexual activity, and the normalization of negative attitudes toward women after exposure to inappropriate content.
Other adverse effects include unrealistic expectations, distorted perceptions of gender roles, increased body dissatisfaction, and harmful beliefs about rape.
The Dangers of Addiction
While your child may not encounter explicitly rated content on Crunchyroll, excessive consumption of online movies and games can indeed have negative effects. "Binge-watching" has become a phenomenon even among adults, let alone children whose bodies and minds are still developing.
Studies show that over 73% of adult respondents feel good after binge-watching. Therefore, if children spend more time than usual watching their favorite anime, it may lead to excessive "excitement." This "addictive" experience can burden children, meaning they spend more time online rather than engaging in learning, exercise, or social activities.
If you want to filter out content on Crunchyroll that is not suitable for children or control the amount of time your child spends watching videos, please continue reading.
Part 3. How to Keep Your Child Safe on Crunchyroll?
There are two ways to keep your child away from mature content on Crunchyroll.
Method 1. Using Crunchyroll Built-in Filter
Crunchyroll has a built-in feature to filter mature video content, which can be used to screen out content not suitable for children. You can follow these instructions:
Open Crunchyroll, tap the settings icon in the top right corner, select "Settings" - "Preferences" - Disable "Mature Video Content." - Enter the account password.
Method 2. Use the Parental Control App
Potential threats to children are not limited to Crunchyroll but are present in various aspects of life. To comprehensively protect your child, using a parental control app is a wise choice.
AirDroid Parental control is the best solution to ensure your kids safe and moderate use of Crunchyroll. It helps parents manage their children's online time, block inappropriate content on the internet, and track child's location in real-time, among other features.
Key Features of AirDroid Parental Control
- Block Harmful Content: Use keyword blocking to filter out inappropriate content, websites, and apps, ensuring that unsuitable material does not reach your child.
- Time Management: The AirDroid Parental Control App allows you to set internet usage times for your child, effectively preventing them from becoming addicted to anime or games.
- Remote Monitoring: You can mirrpr your child's device screen in real-time to better understand their digital life.
- Real-Time Location Tracking: Potential threats are not limited to the internet. It's necessary to monitor your child's GPS location to ensure they don't get lost or end up in dangerous situations.
With AirDroid Parental Control app, you can keep your child in check and ensure their safety on Crunchyroll. The app has a free trial to help you know whether it is ideal for your needs.
Conclusion
Is Crunchyroll a safe website? Crunchyroll is generally safe for streaming anime, offering robust content moderation and security measures. While it's legally licensed and provides parental controls, vigilant supervision is essential for children to avoid inappropriate content.
FAQs About Crunchyroll
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