Parental controls on devices - How can I make devices kid friendly?

There are some amazing tips and tricks out there to make your devices more kid friendly but ultimately no system is bulletproof. Having conversations with your child about what they are up to online, playing games with them and trying out the apps they are into is always the best preventative measure. Creating family digital agreements to set expectations about when and where devices are to be used is also a useful tool, but more on that in our next newsletter!

Here are a couple of tools recommended by Netsafe and the Parenting Place to help set up your devices for kid use. 

Android devices
With Android you can filter the Play Store to show apps that are appropriate for children and restrict costly in-app purchases. You can also set up user accounts with restricted permissions that can only access certain apps on the device. 

Apple
Apple’s Restrictions settings can be used to prevent purchasing and control which apps are used. Go to Settings > Restrictions to work your way through a list of settings. Family sharing also helps you track device history. 

The iOS operating system can also control which apps have access to your private information and the use of GPS based Location Services.

Other software for multiple operating systems

Intel Security Safe Family
Free for 6 months – grant and block access with time limits and age-based rules

Norton Family
Parental control software for multiple devices, free for 30 days

Netsafe also have a helpline and are happy to answer any further questions. 

508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723) – help@netsafe.org.nz – netsafe.org.nz/report

Two great websites for more detailed info:

Digi - Parenting 

Netsafe