


Parents can also use Family Link to create restrictions for how children browse the web. Parents can also get a weekly report to see how often a child is using a certain app, like a game, and choose to have a conversation with the child about using the software responsibly, or block the app temporarily. You can also approve or reject apps that a child is trying to download - so if you’re reluctant about Snapchat or an addictive game like Boom Beach, simply block the apps. You can follow a child’s location, which can be useful for safety purposes or for picking the child up from school. On the parent’s phone, tapping on the child’s account profile brings up a list of options. Then when your child logs in to an Android phone, the device immediately requires you, the parent, to log in and install the Family Link app onto the device so it can be monitored.įrom there, Family Link is a breeze to use.

Inside the app, you can create Google accounts for your children, sharing information like their names and birth dates. The app is available for both iPhones and Android devices. To set it up, request an invitation to the program on Google’s webpage and wait for an email with a link to install the software. An Overviewįamily Link has lots of perks that may be a boon for parents. Or you could buy your child an iPhone, which has restrictions that can’t easily be removed. The takeaway: If you are contemplating the purchase of an Android phone for your child but want to restrict access, there are better parental apps out there that give you more control. Before it goes wide, I tested the parental controls for a week and assessed the features and policies with child safety experts. Google made Family Link available for public testing in March, though the software is still in development and available for use on an invitation-only basis. “It takes the power out of the parents’ hands, which is a big no-no.” “The fact that the kid can graduate themselves is just preposterous,” said Jesse Weinberger, an internet safety speaker who gives presentations to parents, schools and law enforcement officials.
