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Google Family Link
Google Family Link is a simple yet useful program for parental management. You can set usage limits for apps and devices, monitor your child’s whereabouts, and filter websites and applications. Additionally, you can control your children’s in-app purchases, monitor their YouTube activity, and restrict the apps they can download from Google Play.
Nevertheless, Google Family Link is devoid of functionality seen in the top parental control applications. Therefore, you ought to think about utilizing a paid app like Qustodio if you’re searching for a more effective and flexible option.
Google Family Link : Features
- Web and app filtering: Limit the websites and apps your children are able to download and access.
- Time limits: Establish the maximum amount of time your children are permitted to use particular applications or gadgets.
- Location tracking: Displays your children’s whereabouts.
- Setting up a schedule: Decide which times of day or week your youngster is and isn’t permitted to use their gadget.
- Activity reports: Provides you with details about how your child uses their device, such as screen time, installed apps, and apps that are used.
How to install?
- On your device, open the Google Play Store
- In the search bar, search for Family Link.
- When you find the app, tap Install.
- Once your download is complete, tap Family Link to open.
- Tap Continue to set up Family Link using your Google Account.
- If your child already has a Google Account, tap Yes and follow the on-screen instructions to complete setup/If your child does not yet have a Google Account, tap No and follow the on-screen instructions for creating an account.
Parents can use Family Link to do;
- Your child’s apps, browsers & devices
- Your child’s activity
- Your child’s location information
- Your child’s voice & audio information
2-Step Verification for your child’s account
- If your child has 2-Step Verification turned on for their account and you change their password, 2-Step Verification will be turned off and an extra layer of security will be removed from their account.
- Once 2-Step Verification is turned off, a notification email will be sent to both you and your child.
- Your child can turn on 2-Step Verification again once they sign in to their account. Learn more about 2-step verification.
Free yet Constrained
Google Family Link targets a very particular group of people: all-Android families with children under 13 who own just one mobile device. If that’s you, then feel free to give it a try. Your children will be able to benefit from the ease of a Google account without going overboard thanks to it.This isn’t the answer for you if your family uses multiple platforms, if your children are 13 years old or older, or if each child has multiple devices.
Additionally, Google Family Link does not offer the entire spectrum of parental control capabilities. Our Editors’ Pick for Android parental control is Norton Family Parental Control (for Android). Additionally, Norton offers limited support for iOS and Windows. Kaspersky Safe Kids (for iPhone) is our Editors’ Choice for parents whose children use iOS devices exclusively or primarily; a Safe Kids membership covers Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. While neither is free, both have many more features than Family Link.
Conclusion
It turns out that Google Family Link has a little more capability than I had anticipated. Google’s implementation of the functions it does provide is excellent. In the end, I believe it’s best suited for parents of older children who wish to establish some limits on device usage and app access—especially because it doesn’t support iOS child devices and has a still-limited feature set.
