If you want to manage your children’s digital device usage on an Android phone, then you may be interested in using Google Family Link. Google Family Link is a service provided by Google that allows parents to create a Google account for their child and then monitor and control various aspects of their child’s digital activity. In this article we have highlighted the main features of Google Family Link.
Screen time management
Google Family Link allows you to set up daily time limits. This is important in helping your children to have downtime from their devices to avoid spending the entire day staring at the screen. You can manage this using the following steps:
- Open the Family Link app .
- Select the child to manage.
- Tap Controls .
- Under “Daily limit,” tap Set up.
- Select the hours and minutes to set for the limit.
Monitor age-appropriate content
You can also use Google Family Link to monitor the content being viewed on web browsers.
- Open the Family Link app.
- Select the child to manage.
- Tap Content Restrictions.
- Tap Google Chrome.
- Choose the desired setting to amend.
- Tap Manage sites to manually allow or block certain sites.
Protect privacy with data shared
Google Family Link can allow you to view, restrict, and delete the activity settings on your child’s account.
- Open the Family Link app.
- Select the child to manage.
- Tap Controls
- Tap Account settings.
- Tap Privacy settings.
- Tap Account data settings.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Help secure accounts with account and passwords
If your child is still learning about how to create and remember passwords, you may be able to assist them secure their account. Google Family Link allows you to reset your child’s password if they forget their password or can’t log into their account.
- Open the Family Link app.
- Select your child.
- Tap Controls.
- Tap Account settings.
- Tap Account info.
- Tap Change password.
- Sign in with your Google Account information.
- Enter a new password.
- Tap Change.
- If your child has 2-Step Verification turned on, tap Got it to confirm the pop-up notification.
Stay connected where your family are
Google Family Link also lets you stay connected to check where your family are. If you have children on the go, you can check their location through the Family Link app.
- Open the Family Link app.
- Tap Location.
- Tap Set up location.
- If you have multiple children, select which ones you want to turn on location sharing for.
- Tap Turn on.
- When you want to check the location, tap Location and select the child whose location you want to view.
Summary
Google Family Link is a great tool for supporting your child in navigating the digital world safety, whilst also creating a safe environment in which you can monitor if necessary. For more on the Google Family Link, we recommend visiting Google here.