What is Google Family Link and how does it work?

This page was translated using AI and machine learning.

(Pocket-lint) – If you have kids, you probably care what they do on a mobile device. Do not mistake yourself. You want them to explore, tinker, and aspire to be Mark Zuckerberg 2.0 (almost), but at the same time, there are some things kids shouldn’t do on an internet-connected phone or tablet.

So what happens when your child asks you for an Android device? You can either say no right off the bat or use Family Link, a service from Google that offers a series of parental controls.

Here’s how it works.

What is Google Family Link?

Google Family Link provides control over a family group, allowing parents to control their children’s devices to varying degrees.

It allows you to create and manage a specific Google account for your child. This account looks a lot like an adult account, but there are limitations on how this account can access Google. Family Link then lets you manage the child’s device remotely, including things like screen time limits, device location, and installation permissions.

What parental controls does it offer?

With Family Link, you can approve or block the apps your child wants to install from the Google Play Store. You can also monitor and limit screen time, including checking how much time your child spends on their favorite apps, with weekly or monthly activity reports. Finally, you can set daily screen time limits for their device.

Here is the full list of features:

• Managing parental controls across all Google services
• Manage which apps your child can use
• Allow or block the apps your child wants to install from Google Play Store.
• See how much time your child spends on their apps with weekly or monthly activity reports.
• Set daily screen time limits for your child’s device.
• Set daily limits for each application
• Set a bedtime for the device
• See the location of your child’s device
• Remotely lock your child’s device
• See all the devices your child’s account is signed in to
• Play a sound to locate a child’s device.

Family Link does not claim to block inappropriate content, although some apps offer their own filtering options, accessible through Family Link.

This means you can set age limits on Google Play content, like apps, books, and movies. You can also set SafeSearch filtering on Google Search and filter out explicit lyrics in Play Music, though Google says not all of these measures are 100% effective.

All new apps will need to be authorized by a parent, which can be done either on the child’s device by entering your passcode, or on your own phone through the notification you receive.

What are the needs of Google Family Link?

To use Google Family Link, you need the following:

• The Family Link app running on a compatible Android device for your child (any Android 7.0+ device, also works on some Android 5 and 6 phones).
• A Google Account for your child that is managed with Family Link.
• The Family Link app running on your own compatible device (any Android 5 or iOS 11+ device).
• Your own Google account.

How to set up Google Family Link

You must first download the Family Link app to your mobile device, then create a Google Account for your child through the app, through a browser at families.google.com, or use a child account they already have.

On families.google.com you can build your family – up to six people. Importantly, you will be able to indicate who is a parent and they will also get supervision rights through Family Link.

Once the family is set up, you can open Family Link on your own device and follow the steps to set up Family Link to control children’s devices. You will be prompted to install the kids and teens version of the app on their phone as well – make sure you have the correct version on each phone. On some newer devices, you’ll find that the Family Link setup process starts automatically when someone with a child account signs in to a new device, so switching phones or setting up a new phone isn’t a big deal. problem.

As a parent, you can run Family Link on an Android device or an iOS device to manage Google accounts for children under 13. When your child turns 13, they’ll get a regular Google Account, but you can still supervise devices through Family Link.

Once the apps are installed and linked, you can adjust the commands you want from the parent app and have them appear on the child’s device.

What about Chromebooks?

Family Link can also be used to manage the activity and screen time of your children’s Chromebooks. When it connects to a Chromebook, that device is also listed in the Family Link app, and you can set time limits separately for each device. You will also receive notifications if they connect to a Chrome browser.

Google Family Link Tips and Tricks

Exclude apps from screen time limits: You can exclude apps from the time limits you set. For example, you can exclude Duolingo or a school-related app, or allow unlimited messaging while restricting social media, YouTube, or games. Go to the “App Activity” section and tap the timer on the right. You can choose to block, set a limit, always allow, or don’t limit.

Extend allowed screen time: You can easily add extra time. Just go to the section with device time limits and when a device is blocked, you can extend that time. You can also turn it off, but then you risk forgetting to put it back on.

Why isn’t localization working? Family Link helps locate a device. However, this is data dependent, so if a phone runs out of data, the location will no longer be reported. The same is true if a phone has no connection – it’s underground for example – it will just say “location not found”. It’s worth checking how much network data the phone still has, and if it’s all gone, buying a top-up will likely get it working again. It also works over Wi-Fi, so if the child’s device connects to a Wi-Fi network, it will reappear on the map.

Locate a lost phone at home: You can use Family Link to find a device you can’t locate. While the locate feature is great for seeing where a device is outside the home, you can also use Family Link to play a sound on a phone to find it.

Check the battery level of a child’s phone: A child’s phone will not show up if it has no battery. You can check the battery level in Family Link. Just scroll down to device information and you’ll see the latest reported battery level. If it’s 0%, it’s not responding to your messages.

What about bad reviews on the Google Play store?Curiously, Family Link is very poorly rated on Google Play. Read reviews and you’ll see kids complaining about not being able to access certain items after screen time is up. In fact, the low rating reflects the fact that it actually does what it’s supposed to do.

Written by Maggie Tillman. Edited by Chris Hall.