When the child has their first smartphone at the latest, many parents worry that they might end up on inappropriate pages or use apps that are not age-appropriate. In addition to the device’s security settings, there are special youth protection apps that parents can use to limit the digital space for their children. For Android devices, Google offers the free “Family Link” app. LOOK AT! Explains how Family Link works and what parents should pay attention to.
The family link manager app enables parents to use their own Google account to create separate accounts with special filter functions for children and, for example, to set time limits, block certain apps and monitor usage.
Before “Family Link” can be used, parents must configure the app on their device. Google provides a checklist for the first steps: First, it must be checked whether at least Android version 7.0 is installed on the child’s device. With “Family Link”, the restriction of content in a web browser or on an iOS device, for example an iPhone, is only possible to a very limited extent. Devices from the “Huawai” company are also only compatible with the Google offer to a limited extent. Parents, on the other hand, can set up “Family Link” using both an Android and an iOS device.
Set up Google Family Link – Here’s how:
With Google Family Link, you can set rules for your children’s devices and thus protect them from adult content, for example, or set daily limits for certain apps. You must first set up Google Family Link on your (parent) smartphone.
- Download and launch the Google Family Link for Parents app.
- After a quick introduction to the app and the features it offers, you’ll get to setup.
- You will then need to set yourself as the administrator of the family group by tapping on “Ready to go”.
- The next page is about setting up your child’s device. To do this, you need to choose whether your child already has a Google Account or not.
- If your child doesn’t have an account, you should set up one first. If you have a Google Account, you can proceed with the setup.
- You will be presented with a nine-digit code that must now be used to set up your child’s device.
Set up Google Family Link on your child’s device
After you have already taken the first steps on your own smartphone or tablet, you now need to add your child’s device to the Google Family.
- On your child’s device, download and launch the Google Family Link for Kids and Teens app.
- Once started, you’ll need to connect the device by entering the setup code shown in the Family Link for Parents app.
- Select the child’s account and sign in to become part of the family group.
- It then shows what the parents have access to. Parental supervision is set up by clicking on “Allow”.
- Now you have to go back to your own parent smartphone. The account that has just been set up is displayed there. If it is the correct account, confirm the registration with “Yes”.
- You can then use rules. First you can activate a parental control filter and then select which apps and which content should be allowed, restricted or blocked.