13-02-2025
Google released new parental control features
Ammon News - No matter how uncomfortable it might be for parents, it's no secret that the internet is ubiquitous in children's lives. Whether it's used to socialize, play, or learn, a parent's job is to figure out how to maintain safe habits (especially since it might be making a negative impact on their mental health).
Now, Google has introduced new tools, called Google Family Link, to give parents even more ways to protect their kids.
How Google's New Smart Phone Safety Tools Work
Each family is going to approach internet safety differently. Some parents might keep strict tabs on exactly what their kids are watching and playing online—and how much time they spend there—while others, especially those with older kids, might be more flexible. These tools are fully customizable to let parents set the limits they're comfortable with, based on kids' ages and maturity levels.
With Google Family Link, parents can monitor how much time their kids spend on their phone, using the Screen Time tab. That includes monitoring which apps kids use the most—and even selecting which apps can be used (or restricted) during school time.
Google Family Link parental controls screenshot one
According to a Google press release, parents can also schedule "limited phone functionality", which includes pausing notifications during certain hours of the day—like during school and in the evening, during dinner or at bedtime.
For parents who have more than one child, the Controls tab will allow monitoring of multiple devices at once. And to track who your child is talking to on their device, you will be able to approve all the contacts in their phone—so that kids can only call and text people their parents know.
Google Family Link parental controls screenshot two
The Controls tab also includes enhanced privacy settings, allowing you to filter the types of content your child has access. Parents can block certain websites from their child's device, and even select an option to approve app downloads.
Worth it, if not totally necessary?
These additional features might be appealing to parents since many schools are pushing to ban phones during school hours, citing the potential distractions to students. However it's worth noting one recent study found that taking phones away from kids during school hours didn't have an impact on their mental well-being or drastically improve their school performance.
Besides, plenty of parents have admitted that they actually want their kids to at least have access to their phone at school in case of an emergency. That being said, these Google safety settings can at least ensure parental cell phone usage rules will be enforced, even when kids are out of the house.
Instagram Is Safer for Teens Now, Too
In light of the many warnings issued by experts about the dangers of social media, particularly for young people, Instagram recently released its own set of safety tools for parents, including the Instagram Teen Accounts.
This more restricted type of Instagram account doesn't allow direct messaging from senders not already followed by the account. It's also automatically set to private mode, and sends reminders to users to take a break after 60 minutes of use.
