App lets you control kids’ devices
Imagine being able to use an app on your phone to turn off your kid’s device when they ignore your plea to stop using it.
That’s one of the main features of Google’s Family Link, a free app now available in New Zealand to help parents manage their children’s phones and tablets. It’s a powerful tool for parents so you need to think carefully before using all its features.
How it works
Once you’ve downloaded the app on your phone, you create an account for your children’s device. Parents can use an Android or Apple device, but your child’s needs to run Android 7.
You will need to create a new Gmail account for your child and you’ll also need to have a credit card handy as a way to provide parental consent.
Once you’ve set up the devices you can then start using the app to set limits.
Setting it up
It only takes a few minutes to go through the settings to set restrictions on Google Play, Chrome (Google’s web browser) and Google Search.
In Google Play you can set the age limit on movies, apps and music - all are listed according to New Zealand standards.
In Chrome, you can ask the app to try and block mature sites or only allow certain sites.
You can also block in-built Android apps, so you could, for example, block access to the phone’s camera. Using the app
The app offers a scary amount of detail which many parents will love. For example, once you open the app you get a small map showing you the location of your child’s device.
If your kids carry their phones everywhere then you’ll be able to locate them every second of the day, unless they turn their phones off.
It also shows you what apps they’re using and how long for.
The app also lets you set how much time your child uses their device for each day, and the ability to lock it during certain hours.
You can also lock it at any time perfect for when your kids ignore your demand to get off their devices.
One feature to be aware of is that the is only designed for kids under 13. Once they become a teenager, they can graduate to a full Google account. However, your child can still opt to have their account managed by a parent - something I recommend.
Once set up, the app is easy to use and it’s potentially a great tool for parents.
The real world
Family Link is a helicopter parent’s dream, but I’d urge caution around using all the features. It may be tempting to assert total control, but that’s not the best way to teach your child about tech.
The ideal is that you work with your children. You want them to be able to come to you to ask for help or advice.
It’s also best to discuss rules as a family and get them to follow them. It also good to teach them why they can’t be online all the time, rather than just enforcing limits.
Taking a dictatorial approach could also mean they end up going to greater lengths to hide things from you. However, I highly recommend some of the features such as age limits on apps, movies and restricting Google search.
I also like to be able to approve all the apps my children download. While this can be a hassle, it means they’re not installing expensive or inappropriate apps.
If you prefer a more simple approach, both Apple and Android devices have some of these features built-in so you don’t need this app unless you want more power. However, it can help with troublesome kids or to give you a complete picture of what your kids do with their device - just don’t forget to also talk about tech with your kids.