Often parents don’t know what their children are doing on the Internet, which games they are playing, what they avoid using adult sites, like Bet20, and how much time they spend on it. Parental control programs come to the rescue: they protect children from unwanted content, limit the time they use their smartphone and even track their location.
Content:
Google Family Link
Completely free app from Google: A parent can install the program on an Android smartphone or iPhone, but a child’s account can only be connected to Android gadgets.
Family Link isn’t just a location tracker. With its help, parents can limit the time their child spends on the smartphone, as well as block access to unwanted sites. You can see absolutely all the apps that the child opens, and separately those that he wants to buy. At any time, a parent can prohibit the purchase or block programs that have already been downloaded.
You can also set a time limit on your child’s smartphone or prohibit using the device during sleep, classes and other time intervals.
Kaspersky Safe Kids
Kaspersky Safe Kids app for parental control is compatible with iOS and Android smartphones as well as with Windows and MacOS computers.
In the free version, a parent can filter and block unwanted sites and see how much time the child spends online. Besides, the program contains tips from child psychologists on how parents should behave in difficult situations. For example, if a child has visited adult websites, there will be advice on how to react to this correctly and talk to him or her.
In the premium version, functionality is expanded: the parent can see the location of the child’s smartphone, monitor the battery level, limit the time of device use, track the child’s activity in social networks, as well as receive reports on his online habits.
Qustodio
Qustodio is an Internet filter for children. It blocks inappropriate sites, apps and games on a child’s smartphone. The app is available for iOS and Android devices, as well as for Windows and MacOS-based computers.
In real time, a parent can see the search history, videos watched by the child and his activity in social networks: published posts, comments, statuses. Besides, you can track all calls and SMS received on the child’s smartphone, and if necessary, block unwanted numbers.
The app is also able to locate the child and send an SOS signal to parents in case of an emergency.
The service can be used for free, but with connection to only one child’s device and restrictions on monitoring the child’s activity on the Internet. On paid plans, functionality is expanded, and they start at $54.95 per year.
Kids Place
This tool only works on Android smartphones. With Kids Place, parents can be aware of all of their child’s online activities and, if necessary, block access to a particular app, such as the browser, social networks or messengers. In the settings, it’s possible to allow the launch only of certain content: emulators, educational programs, drawing utilities, etc.
Kids Place allows you to completely disable access to the Internet on children’s smartphones and prevent downloading content from Google Play. The app can also remotely block unwanted calls on the child’s phone.
Advanced features are available in paid plans. Their cost starts at $ 2.99 a month. In the free version, parents can only limit the time of use of the smartphone, block programs and control purchases in the app stores.
Nintendo Switch Parental Controls
The free Nintendo Switch parental control app is linked to the console of the same name and allows you to monitor your child’s gaming activities and preferences. A parent can limit the game time: when it’s over, a notification will appear on the console screen that it’s time to turn it off. The app has an option to set a timer so that the child can see how much time he or she has left to play.
Parents can also use the app to deny their child access to age-inappropriate games and purchases, as well as view a report on how long they’ve played and what they’ve played. The Nintendo Switch Parental Controls are suitable for all Android and iOS devices.
