Ensuring your child’s internet safety is a difficult but necessary chore. However, parental control can help your child have secure online experiences by enabling parental controls and privacy settings on the networks, devices, apps, and websites they use.
What Are The Parental Controls?
Parental controls are settings that work across devices, apps, and networks. They allow you to control your screen time, in-game spending, content, communication, and more.
We understand how difficult it is to handle internet safety across all the technology your child uses. That is why we have developed a series of step-by-step parental control, safety, and privacy tutorials.
These parental control instructions can help you tailor your children’s digital experiences and teach them about online safety. These resources can help older children lead discussions about safety settings on social media, video games, and other platforms. Showing youngsters how to use safety tools can help them take responsibility for their safety.
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What Exactly Can Parental Controls Do?
It is critical to be informed of the various parental control options available. They are commonly provided by internet service providers, computer operating systems, social networks, search engines, gaming consoles, and others. They also offer a variety of functionalities, depending on the provider, including:
Manage access to apps and content.
For Android phone users:
- Parents can set up numerous user accounts on a smartphone with the Android operating system, which makes their lives a little easier. This allows you to keep your apps separate from the child’s and share the phone with them.
- Toggle “Multiple users” under Settings > System > Multiple users to activate this feature. For your child, you can create a new user profile here. To navigate to the child’s profile, select the blue User symbol by swiping down from the top of your phone. Keep in mind that not every Android phone has this feature; the most recent Samsung Galaxy models do not.
- You can give your kids the phone in Guest Mode if you don’t want to create user accounts for them. Imagine, for instance, that your child’s tablet battery dies in the middle of a Peppa Pig episode. With your phone, you can swipe down from the top of the screen, select the blue User symbol, and then select Guest. This will stop your youngster from tampering with your apps, text messages, and images by limiting the phone to the stock settings and programs.
- Download the free Google Family Link app from the Google Play store to implement effective parental controls on a child’s phone. With the help of the app, you can help your child create a Google account that is connected to your own. Alternatively, you can link to your child’s Google account if they already have one. The Google Family Link app for kids and teens should then be downloaded to your child’s smartphone.
- You can control the kind of limitations your child’s account will have right from your phone. For instance, by selecting “Apps installed,” you can either allow or prohibit specific programs. Your child’s permitted video viewing options on YouTube can be customized by selecting a “supervised experience.”
- Your youngster can utilize the limited account when you’ve finished the process. It won’t affect your account.
- You can keep track of what your child is doing via the app’s dashboard and email alerts, and each new app your child wants to download will require parental approval.
To iPhone users:
Sharing an iPhone with your 8-year-old is not as convenient as sharing an Android device. You can’t switch between accounts without checking in and out of iCloud, so having your smartphone makes things a lot simpler.
- To begin, navigate to Settings > Screen Time and include your child in your family group. If your child does not have an iCloud account, the phone will assist you through the setup procedure.
- After that, you can put different limits on the child’s phone or your own. Choose App Limits from the Screen Time settings menu, then click Add Limit. You may then set controls for particular options, such as Social, Games, Entertainment, and so on, or select All Apps & Categories. These will be secured with a four-digit parental passcode, just like other settings features, to prevent children from changing them.
- Select Content & Privacy Restrictions, turn that on, and then touch Content Restrictions if you would like to further limit the types of content your child can view. This enables you to restrict the device’s movie and TV show viewing to particular ratings (G, PG, R, etc.). and determine if the kid is allowed to listen to music and podcasts. It’s also possible to block adult websites. Restrictions on interactions are also available for multiplayer games.
- After that, you may monitor what your children are doing using the Screen Time settings on your phone, and if necessary, remotely alter the controls. You may view the different restrictions you’ve set and a real-time report on the child’s screen time usage when you pick the child’s profile.
- It’s important to note that adults can also use Apple’s screen time controls. Many individuals like to monitor their phone use, as the business notes. Therefore, parents are free to enforce their own rules. Naturally, you will be aware of the four-digit passcode that enables you to override them, unlike your youngster.
For Samsung Galaxy phone users:
Use Samsung’s integrated Kids Mode parental controls or Google’s Family Link software to establish use caps and content limitations. Access to instructional apps through the Galaxy Apps store is also provided by the latter.
The controls are accessible by swiping down from the top of the screen to reveal the fast menu, and then choosing Kids Mode. Once configured, this limited mode can lock your phone and prevent it from being unlocked without a four-digit PIN.
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Limit Your Screen Time.
For Android phone users:
Moreover, you can set a daily usage limit for your child and designate a “bedtime” window during which they are not allowed to use the device using the Family Link app. Your kids can text your phone to ask for more time if they want it.
To keep an eye on what a child using an Android phone does, you may even download the program to an iPhone. Except for a few Google Account settings, you are unable to remotely adjust controls on the child’s iPhone using this program.
For iPhone users:
- You may set daily time limitations for social media, gaming, entertainment, and other apps in the Screen Time settings. Your phone can receive requests from the child for additional time.
- Like Google’s “bedtime,” you can also schedule a “downtime” during which your child is only allowed to use the applications and features you choose.
- Under Settings > Screen Time > App Limits and Settings > Screen Time > Downtime, you can find these parental controls.
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Keep Your Child’s Information Private
Maintaining your child’s privacy when they share every little aspect of their lives on social media can be challenging in a world where both adults and children want to share their details. But to assist you with that, parental controls are available from both Apple and Google.
For Android phone users:
By using the Family Link app, you may restrict Google’s ability to save data on your child’s online searches, voice commands, and other activities, as well as stop them from sharing Google Photos.
By choosing the relevant App and Games setting, you can also prevent access to the majority of social media applications. You have the choice between “10 and up” and “younger.” However, this does not prevent the webpages for those platforms from appearing in the web browser on the device.
For iPhone users:
You can disable location services on a phone and the access that specific applications have to your child’s location by using the Content & Privacy Restrictions option in the Screen Time settings menu.
These settings also allow you to disable the microphone on the phone, stop apps for fitness trackers and other services from sharing your child’s data over Bluetooth, and limit which apps may access the phone’s saved images.
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WiFi and broadband at home
Your family may be able to use parental controls from home internet providers. One may:
To limit what your family and you see, use a filter provided by your internet provider. Certain providers permit distinct configurations for every user.
Any device linked to your home broadband should be set up. Your provider’s instructions will determine how to proceed, and you’ll need access to your home network. You can request assistance setting this up from your internet provider. Keep in mind that this just impacts your child’s WiFi-based internet access; if they are connecting via 4G, 5G, etc., you also need to check the settings on their mobile device.
Consoles for games
Since most gaming consoles have internet connectivity, your youngster can use it to play games, communicate with other players, and make in-game purchases. Parental controls are available on a lot of consoles and let you limit what features your child can use. With some gadgets, you can:
- Disable chat features to prevent your kids from interacting with strangers.
- Limit games according to age
- Disable in-game purchases or place a cap.
- Look for a features section and details about the parent’s area on the console your child owns’ website. You can also alter the parameters specific to a certain game in certain cases.
Family Management for PlayStation
You can create a Family Manager account on PlayStation consoles to oversee various accounts for various users or children. This allows you to regulate several features, including playtime limits, content restrictions, blocking player-to-player interactions, and spending limits. View all of the features that the PS4 and PS5 have to offer.
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Computers, iPads, and cellphones
Parental control settings are available on all smartphones, tablets, and PCs. These vary depending on the device and include:
- Permitting or prohibiting in-app or game purchases
- Configurations like location and the date your child is sharing
- Screen time restriction is aided by wellbeing settings.
- Additional guidance regarding the configuration of controls on various devices can be obtained from your mobile carrier and the UK Safer Internet Centre.
Parental features are accessible on Apple products, including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and others. These features are all connected to an account. You can restrict material and privacy, stop purchases, allow or block apps, and do a lot more. Check out the parental controls that are available on iOS devices from Apple.
Internet services and apps
Features like this are present in a lot of social media platforms, apps, and internet services including movie and TV streaming services:
- Content sifters
- Chat filters
- Privacy Configurations
- Settings for in-app purchases.
For additional information, check out each app’s settings or visit their website to learn more about these features. These could be referred to as security, privacy, family features, or settings.
An explanation of the features is provided by Facebook’s Parents portal.
We advise you to do this as soon as you create an account because you must go to the Netflix website to set up parental controls.
By forming a family group, you can control a multitude of settings with Microsoft Family Safety, including receiving activity reports, limiting the amount of time spent on apps and games, limiting screen time, and much more. Check out Xbox Family Settings and the Microsoft page for additional information about Microsoft Family Safety.
Search Engines
Innocent searches can occasionally produce unintentional outcomes. Should you be concerned:
Using the parental controls and filters available in search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing, you can ensure that the content your child views online is suitable for their age.
Verify that parental controls are enabled on your household’s gadgets and broadband.
Google Family Link is a very helpful tool for controlling several aspects, including content restriction, app approval or disapproval, screen time management, and more. Go to the Google FAQ page for a wealth of helpful information.
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WiFi while traveling
If your child uses 3G or 4G, public WiFi, or logs into a friend’s connection instead of your home internet, the controls you’ve set up on their device and your broadband won’t function. Recall:
When you’re out and about, public WiFi is frequently available, but it’s not necessarily secure.
Family-friendly WiFi is available at certain establishments and public spaces. Check to see if the devices and internet in your home have parental controls enabled.
Google Family Link is a very useful tool for managing several elements, such as screen time management, app approval or disapproval, content restriction, and more. Visit the Google FAQ page to access a plethora of useful data.
WiFi when on the go
The controls you’ve set up on your child’s device and your broadband won’t work if they use 3G or 4G, public WiFi, or log in to a friend’s connection instead of your home internet. Remember:
When you’re out and about, public WiFi is commonly available, but it’s not necessarily secure.
Family-friendly WiFi is available at certain establishments and public spaces. If you have set up controls on your home broadband and your child’s device, they won’t help if your child connects to another WiFi network without authorization.
Setting up parental controls is only one way you can ensure your child’s online safety.
Additional best practices are as follows:
- Conversing with your kid. Justify the parental controls you are putting in place: to keep children safe. Additionally, let them know that they are welcome to speak with you to discuss the reasons behind the settings.
- Establish secure passwords wherever you can. Certain parental controls allow you to set a password that stops other people from changing the features and settings.
- Age plays a big role; as kids get older, you should adjust the limits and rules you set for them, but only at a rate that suits them. Don’t let them persuade you to do things “just because everyone else is doing it.”
- Stuff filters are never completely successful; your child will most certainly come across unsuitable or distressing stuff at some point, and you must be able to discuss this with them.
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Conclusion
Parental controls are available on the majority of Internet-connected devices, including computers, smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles. Parental controls can help limit the danger of your child accessing improper content while online. When implementing parental controls, utilize age-appropriate options to filter, monitor, and restrict your child’s activities. We advocate utilizing parental controls on all gadgets, desktops, and tablets in the home, particularly for smaller children.