Would you hire a teen as a staff member on your forum? Why or why not?

If they can do the job then sure,

If they’re 18 and over, sure.

If 17 or under, no. YOU are responsible for what they see on your forum, no matter what rules you have made or what waiver you have created.

Social media giants get sued every day for what teens can access on their websites. Don’t think you can’t be sued.

I don’t allow anyone under the age of 18 on my forums. It’s too risky.

I would certainly hire a teen if they are responsible and know what they are doing. However, it would be really risky to hire someone irresponsible and careless. Many people do not take forums that seriously and this is where the problem begins. Under such kind of circumstances, it I always important to hire someone who knows what their duties are.

Whether they are a mod or not, they are still on the site so as long as your site is deemed SFW then does age matter about moderating? It’s not a real job per se so no laws in that aspect. It’s whether they are mature enough.

On Sep 25, 2026, Jigsaw said:

Whether they are a mod or not, they are still on the site so as long as your site is deemed SFW then does age matter about moderating? It’s not a real job per se so no laws in that aspect. It’s whether they are mature enough.

Many people may think that it may not be appropriate or suitable to hire teens because they may never take the job seriously. I reckon that this is a legitimate concern. However, I do not think that all teens would be like that. Some teens are quite responsible. Regardless of that, this entirely depends on the owner. Some might hire them whereas some might just hire an older person.

Hiring teens can work if they have the maturity and time because age is just a number. Some adults don't even have common sense. 😂 The advantage is that they are always eager to learn.

On Oct 2, 2026, Uptrend said:

Hiring teens can work if they have the maturity and time because age is just a number. Some adults don't even have common sense. 😂 The advantage is that they are always eager to learn.

I reckon that every person could be eager to learn new things, regardless of age. This obviously depends a lot in your willingness to seek knowledge and learn new things. However, if you hire an elderly person, the chances are that they are most likely mature. They will take the job seriously and they will handle issues in a much wiser manner. This is one of the most important things when it comes to running and managing forums.

I would not hire a teen if they are below 18 years old. Running a forum is all about being responsible for the content they post. It is highly unlikely that you may get into legal trouble if a teenager makes a mistake on your forum. However, I wouldn't risk it. Regardless of that, I would hire a much older person for this job, as they seem more responsible.