TV series · 2009 · Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Is The Vampire Diaries OK for kids?

Q: Is The Vampire Diaries OK for kids?

Not a fit. Under the Kids preset it goes over the limits: nudity is mild, sexual content is severe, sexualised imagery is moderate and 7 more.

Q: Is The Vampire Diaries OK for teenagers?

Not a fit. Under the Teen-safe preset it goes over the limits: sexual content is severe, violence & gore is severe, self-harm & suicide is moderate.

The story of two vampire brothers obsessed with the same girl, who bears a striking resemblance to the beautiful but ruthless vampire they knew and loved in 1864.

At a glance

Kids preset · gentle limits for younger children

Not a fit

Under the Kids preset it goes over the limits: nudity is mild, sexual content is severe, sexualised imagery is moderate and 7 more.

Teen-safe preset · room for action and drama, nothing explicit

Not a fit

Under the Teen-safe preset it goes over the limits: sexual content is severe, violence & gore is severe, self-harm & suicide is moderate.

Every family draws the line differently. Set your own rules and see whether The Vampire Diaries fits yours, topic by topic. Free.

Set your own rules

What's in it, topic by topic

Sexual & romantic

NudityMild
No graphic nudity; Damon shown naked ~2 minutes with private parts covered, and other nudity only implied.
Sources: imdb.com
Sexual contentSevere
Sex scenes cut away and sex is often discussed, but sexual assault is depicted: a man tries to force himself on a girl.
Sources: imdb.com
Sexualised imageryModerate
Girls often shown in underwear, frequent shirtlessness and a sheet-clad body-touching scene; no explicit shots.
Sources: imdb.com
Kissing & romanceSevere
A central teen love triangle, with teens making out in most episodes and romance described as 'pretty steamy'.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org, imdb.com, screenwiseapp.com

Language & behaviour

ProfanityModerate
Mostly mild words (damn, hell, crap, ass, bitch), plus 'holy shit' and one offensive slur; f-word rare.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org, imdb.com, vampirediaries.fandom.com, parental-control.flashget.com
Vulgarity & crude humourNone
Sources describe only language, no toilet or gross-out humor.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org, parental-control.flashget.com, imdb.com
Verbal abuse & bullyingMild
Sources mention unhealthy relationship portrayals but no sustained verbal abuse.
Sources: imdb.com, commonsensemedia.org
Discrimination & hateMild
Characters of color are mostly supporting and killed off quickly; women often shown as helpless; not framed critically.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org
Disrespectful behaviour & role modelsModerate
Characters routinely lie, compel and kill, and drink underage with few consequences; role models rated very little.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org, screenwiseapp.com
Dangerous imitable actsMild
Underage drinking is shown as commonplace with rare consequences; a hanging and a self-stabbing are shown.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org, imdb.com

Violence & intensity

Violence & goreSevere
Violence in every episode: torture, bloody bites, heart-ripping and decapitations, though not shown in graphic detail.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org, imdb.com
Frightening & intense scenesModerate
Supernatural horror with jump scares, torture and disturbing imagery; IMDb rates it Moderate.
Sources: imdb.com, storyscanner.app
Self-harm & suicideModerate
A young woman hangs herself and is seen dead briefly; another stabs herself in the stomach.
Sources: imdb.com, ageratingjuju.com
Death & griefModerate
Many characters die with emotional death scenes, and grief recurs as a theme. Sources did not mention animals.
Sources: imdb.com, soapcentral.com
Alcohol, drugs & smokingModerate
Underage characters drink socially, some until drunk, some smoke, and one character has a substance abuse disorder.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org, imdb.com

Topics some families want to know about

LGBTQ+ representationBackground
Season 5 adds Luke, a recurring gay character at college; shown with no romantic storyline in the sources.
Sources: advocate.com
Religious contentBackground
No conventional religion; crucifixes and holy water don't affect vampires, and the afterlife is a supernatural 'Other Side'.
Sources: pluggedin.com, vampirediaries.fandom.com
Occult & magicCentral
Witches are main characters, with spellcasting, séances, necromancy and spirit possession; mostly fantasy with occult-style rituals.
Sources: vampirediaries.fandom.com, en.wikipedia.org
Political & ideological themesNo info
We couldn't find enough about this topic yet.
Products & advertisingNo info
We couldn't find enough about this topic yet.
Messages & valuesProblematic
Characters mean well, but romances model possessiveness and toxic attachment, and underage drinking has few consequences.
Sources: screenwiseapp.com, commonsensemedia.org

Rated 30 Oct 2026 by our research.

How we rate

We read parent guides, reviews and official ratings for every title and rate 21 topics, from kissing and profanity to violence, frightening scenes, substance use and the messages a story leaves behind, each with a reason and its sources. Our team verifies what the sources leave out. You set a limit per topic, and every title gets a clear verdict against your rules, not someone else's age label.