How to use parental controls to keep your kid safer online

Image

Talking with your kids about your family’s rules and expectations is key to helping them establish good online habits. Some parents use parental controls to reinforce those good habits — and create safer online spaces for their kids to learn and play.

While specific settings and functions vary based on the parental controls you use, most help you do things like

• manage how much time your kid spends online
• restrict the type of content your kid can access
• get information about your kid’s website and app activity
• limit who your kid can communicate with
• restrict purchases

There are many free parental control tools and apps available. Choosing one to fit your needs depends on what devices your kid uses and the boundaries you’ve decided to set for your family. Here are some options to consider.

For an Apple iPhone or iPad, you can set up parental controls with Apple’s Family Sharing.

If your kid has a Chromebook laptop or Android phone or tablet, you can set up parental controls with Google’s Family Link. Family Link also lets you customize parental controls on YouTube.

If your kid uses a Windows computer or laptop, or an Xbox, you can set up parental controls with Microsoft Family Safety.

To work best, parental controls need to be set up on all the devices your kid uses. It can seem overwhelming, but one of the above tools might give you the options you’re looking for. You can always add other tools or settings later.

Many gaming platforms, apps, and websites also have parental controls. If your kid is a gamer, read our article, Kids and Video Games. If your kid is on social media, here are links to parental controls for some popular social media apps:

• TikTok
• Snapchat
• Instagram

If you want more details on setting up parental controls, check out some of these how-to guides:

• Parental controls and privacy settings guides from Internet Matters
• Guide to Parental Controls from SafeWise
• Parental controls: How to keep your child safe from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner
• Use Parental Controls to Keep Your Child Safe from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

As your kid grows and matures, you may want to adjust the parental controls accordingly. But there’s really no substitute for talking with your kid about your family’s rules and expectations.