Wondering if Euphoria is ok for teens? Euphoria is rated TV-MA for basically all the things – drugs, nudity, language, and mature content. Is Euphoria ok for kids? No and not even for most teens. Season 2 of Euphoria is now streaming on HBO Max and is even more triggering than the first season. Here’s what parents need to know in this Euphoria Parents Guide.
Euphoria Parents Guide Seasons 1 and 2
Euphoria follows the troubled life of 17-year-old Rue, a drug addict fresh from rehab with no plans to stay clean. Characters in Rue’s life include Jules, a transgender girl searching for where she belongs; Nate, a jock whose anger issues mask sexual insecurities; Chris, a football star who finds the adjustment from high school to college harder than expected; Cassie, whose sexual history continues to dog her; and Kat, a body-conscious teen exploring her sexuality. As the classmates struggle to make sense of their futures, the series tackles the teenage landscape of substance-enhanced parties and anxiety-ridden day-to-day life.
In Season 2 of Euphoria, there are even more drugs and even more drama. Rue must find hope while balancing the pressures of love, loss, and addiction. But it won’t be easy.
Why is Euphoria Rated TV-MA?
Euphoria is rated TV-MA for drug use, nudity, violence, and language which means some content may not be suitable for kids under 17.
Is Euphoria Kid Friendly?
Parents need to know that Euphoria is not recommended for kids and deals with very heavy issues. Many teens will want to watch, especially after Zendaya’s Emmy win. And there are a ton of high school and middle school kids watching.
In season 2 of Euphoria, you can expect to see some sex scenes and nudity, scenes involving rape, some violence including cutting, smoking, alcohol, drug use, and profanity used by some of the characters. To sum it up, Euphoria is not kid-friendly.
Language
There is strong profanity in Euphoria including many uses of sh*t, fu*k, a**, a**hole, bit*h, bastard, and sexual words like dick, pu**y, and c*nt.
Mature Content
There is a ton of sexual content in Euphoria including an erect penis or two or three, bare breasts, a sexual encounter between an older man and younger girl, a locker room with naked men and frontal nudity, masturbation, pornography, oral sex, anal sex, and rape. Teenage girls have their nude pictures leaked and are recorded having sex.
Since Rue is a drug addict, there is a whole lot of drug use. Teens are using cocaine, heroine, steroids, oxycontin, taking pills, vaping, and using juuls. There is also a lot of underage drinking.
Euphoria also contains a lot of violence. A girl cuts herself after being harassed by a boy. A character is shot in the head. A female character is abused by a male.
Several characters are raped which may be a trigger for some.
There is a lot of sexual activity including masturbation and front male nudity.
Is Euphoria Appropriate For Kids Under 17?
Many teens who perhaps didn’t watch Season 1 may want to start watching since Zendaya and Jacob Elordi are a couple of the stars of the show. What ages is Euphoria suitable for? I wouldn’t recommend Euphoria for kids or teens due to the dark and graphic nature of the show. It’s heavy and may be hard for teens to cope with the emotional weight. If they do watch, I’d recommend watching with an adult to be able to talk about the content and process their thoughts and feelings.
Even Zendaya issued a warning to fans about Season 2 of Euphoria:
“I know I’ve said this before, but I do want to reiterate to everyone that Euphoria is for mature audiences. This season, maybe even more so than the last, is deeply emotional and deals with subject matter that can be triggering and difficult to watch. Please only watch it if you feel comfortable. Take care of yourself and know that either way you are still loved and I can still feel your support. All my love, Daya.”
I echo Zendaya in that Euphoria really is for mature audiences and has too much dark and emotional content, especially for tweens.
Critically, is Euphoria an amazing show with amazing actors? Perhaps. But I do not understand why so many teens are watching this show. Even the actors have had trouble separating themselves from the content in Euphoria.
As a former CPS worker, I have seen first hand what content like this can do to kids and teens, with brains that are not fully developed to comprehend the consequences (or lack thereof) of characters’ actions. Euphoria is not ok for kids in any way. Between nudity, violence, drug use, and severe language, this is not a feel-good show. I mean watch Outer Banks or The Summer I Turned Pretty if you need a little bit of trashy TV.
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Sage
Friday 1st of November 2024
I think this show is okay-ish for a 16-17 year old, but it really depends on what you're comfortable with and how mature you are.
W
Tuesday 3rd of January 2023
I have watched only the first season and one episode of the 2nd. There is nudity in all episodes (in a sexual way too) ,like is this a porno or smth? Also the couples there are the most toxic and abusive I've ever seen in my life. As someone whos parents were in a toxic relationship this show was very triggering and it reminded me of those times.Ain't no way that is supposed to be an high school . I watched a bit more just cuz of Rue for some reason but ..that series is too much. Also many characters are evil. Nate is abusive but this started because he found his dad's sexy discs when he was 11 and that ruined him. So his dad is evil too also I don't understand how Maddie still didn't dump Nate like.. Also If you have problem with drugs or porn addiction do not watch this because there will be a high chance of relapsing. Overall kinda nice show expect that it's too sexualized ...high schoolers btw
Laylag
Thursday 15th of September 2022
We all know kids, we tell them not to do something an they do it. Why we make these kinds of shows I have no idea. I walked into my 15 year old son watching this. And I guess I walked into a bad part... I won't give any details but the fact he begged me not to tell his dad proves he shouldn't be watching this. No wonder it's rated MA. no 17 year old should see this either. This is crap and I believe it should be stopped
tanialamb
Thursday 15th of September 2022
Totally agree. I understand why kids and teens would be curious. Zendaya! Sydney Sweeney! But the idea that the show is about teens and high schoolers when played by more mature actors is just so confusing for these kids.
Mom
Monday 7th of March 2022
When my 16 years old told me about a HBO series called Euphoria and Zendaya was in the show, I thought it was like something similar to All American, but I couldn't believe what I was seeing, I was able to "suffer" the first chapter and I was horrified, I don't understand how producers can make something that bad for our kids, I want to know if their own kids watch Euphoria, if they are warning us about season 2, I can't imagine what it can be in there, my imagination doesn't go that far. What is the point with this kind of shows, depress our kids, show them that there is nothing beautiful in life? that first love doesn't exist any more??? That is not the real world, at least for the place we live. The series are the worse I've ever watch. I am truly sad to see what is out there for our kids, and how HBO doesn't care for our kids well being, they just put stuff there to make money, Yesterday I was crying knowing what my son watched.
tanialamb
Monday 7th of March 2022
And so many kids are watching it. It's scary. All-American still has edge and may not be for everyone, but it's a much better series.
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