It’s finally over: Your child is old enough to have their own smartphone. At age 11, half of young people in the U.S. have a cell, and the first thing you think about after shopping is probably how you set up parental controls to prevent them from wasting too much time. about the thing and seeing things they shouldn’t see (you know, everything you do).
The good news is that Android and iOS have gotten better at offering built-in parental controls, so you don’t have to worry too much about what your preteen is doing. How you do it when you get to the age when it’s time for these parental controls to come out is another matter, but you still don’t have to worry about that.
How do I set up Android parental controls?
The first step in setting up an Android mobile phone for your child is to make sure they have a Google Account linked to yours. This is best done with your phone’s Google Family Link app – it’s available on both Android and iOS, and you’ll be asked to create a children’s account the first time you run it. More children can be added by tapping the + (more) button at the top right of the home screen.
With the new Google Account for your child now created, you can use it to sign in to the Android device you have for them. During the initial setup process, sign in with the details you just created and verify that you are a parent by entering your own credentials (just make sure there is no chance of your child guessing your password). You can then manage everything using the Family Link app on your own device.
Google Family Link is free and easy to use. (Screenshot: Google)
You can lock apps, set connection time limits, and view your child’s current location (or rather, your child’s phone). Other controls allow you to manage Google Search filters, Google Chrome websites, and certain limitations in the Google Play Store, so you can’t install any applications without your explicit permission, for example. If you want to let your child go to YouTube instead of YouTube Kids, you can also set some restrictions using the Family Link app.
Imagine you want to manage websites that your child can access through Chrome on Android. In the Family Link app, select your child, then select Manage settings and Google Chrome. You can choose to Allow all sites (except the ones you specifically block) your child away from unhealthy things) and Only allow approved sites (so you must specifically allow a particular site before your child can visit it).
How do I set up iOS parental controls?
As with Android, if your child has an iPhone, you’ll need to create an Apple ID for them and link to yours using a service called Family Sharing. This allows you to control everything from shopping in the App Store to filters on the web to what you can find with Siri. Family sharing also includes benefits such as the ability to view your loved ones’ locations and the option to share subscriptions for services such as Apple Music and iCloud storage.
To create a new children’s account from your iPhone, go to Settings, then tap your name at the top of the screen. Choose Family sharing, Add a member, and Create a child account, then tap Continue and follow the instructions on the screen. Your child will need their own email address for this, so you’ll need to set up one if you haven’t already. The new Apple ID you created can be used to identify your child on the new iPhone.
IOS built-in parental controls include web content filters. (Screenshot: Apple)
After that, it’s time to put some restrictions on your child’s phone instead of yours. Screen time (from Settings) is a good place to start: on the first screen you see, select Continue, then select This is my child’s iPhone (you can enter a password to stop editing any of these options). In Screen Time, you can control the time limits for applications, the total time on your device, access to specific contacts, and the availability of explicit content in terms of music, movies, and podcasts.
All the options are self-explanatory and give you a lot of control over your child’s device. To block certain websites in Safari, for example, from Screen Time, select Content and privacy restrictions, and then select Content and web content restrictions: then you can block known adult websites or zoom in. from the other side and only allow access to websites that have been specifically approved and added by you.
Other parental control applications for smartphones
There are additional applications and services that you can use to have even more control, although they tend to be more effective on Android, as Apple is more restrictive about the hooks that third-party applications can introduce into the operating system. It’s also worth looking at the settings of the individual applications that your children are likely to use the most.
Qustodio is one of the most complete options, including laptops, tablets and e-books, as well as smartphones. You can set restrictions in terms of content, specific applications, and screen time limits, and get reports on what your child is doing, all through a clear and intuitive interface. Pricing starts at $ 35 ($ 49) a year for coverage for up to five devices, though you can try it for free.
Qustodio is one of the most comprehensive third-party options available. (Screenshot: Qustodio)
Microsoft has its own parental control offer in the form of Microsoft Family Safety, and this is a particularly good option if your child will spend a lot of time on Windows, Android and an Xbox (iOS is also covered, but it’s a little more limited). Many of the basics are available for free: they include screen time limits for apps and games, and web and search content filters, but there are some premium features that you can access for $ 10 (14 dollars) per month.
As for the in-app controls, the apps that include TikTok have them, and it looks like they’ll be coming to Snapchat soon. Instagram just launched its own options earlier this year – you can find them by opening Instagram on your child’s phone using your child’s account. From the profile page, tap the menu button (top right) and then Settings and monitoring; you can then submit a monitoring request to your Instagram account and set time limits and Instagram followers.