With “Family Link”, Google offers an app that helps parents accompany their children on their way into the digital world. What are the benefits of Family Link? What can the app do and what can’t it do? We take a closer look at these questions in this article.
At some point all parents are faced with the question: when is the right time to give my child a mobile phone or smartphone? This question can not be answered generally. Ultimately, it depends on the framework conditions, what you trust your child to be capable of and how far your child is in development. Google’s Family Link aims to help bring children closer to the digital world.
Before using Family Link, as a parent, think carefully about what you want to use the app for. Speak openly about the topic and include your child in the conversation. Because one thing must not happen under any circumstances: using Family Link as a pure tracking and monitoring tool. Your child also has privacy.
We would therefore first like to show you what the app can do and what things are not possible with it.
This is possible with Family Link
Your child gets a Google account and thus access to e-mail with which they are registered on their own smartphone or tablet. Usually young people in Germany can only set up a Google account legally at the age of 13. Family Link thus overrides this regulation for younger children – also in a legal manner with the consent of the parents.
If your child wants to download an app from the Google Play Store, they need parental consent first. If this happens, it can download the app. Parents also receive a message for so-called in-app purchases. This is how Family Link prevents thoughtless, paid purchases.
Family Link also shows parents the total number of minutes their child has spent using their smartphone or tablet. The app even provides information about which apps the usage time is distributed over. For each app on the child’s device, you can set how long it can use the respective program. When the time is up, the app will automatically close.
The app also has a sleep mode. For example, your child’s device can only be used between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. After that, all functions are blocked, except for the “emergency call”. The child can then at least still make phone calls via this “gap”, which makes sense in the event of a real emergency situation.
Parents have the ability to filter search content, for example. Age-appropriate filters can also be activated in the apps. However, you should be aware that such filters never offer full protection. The app also comes with a GPS tracker. Parents can therefore see where their child is at any time when the function is activated. You can also switch off the tracking function. By the way: If you track your child’s location, your child will receive a message on their device. Therefore, talk openly with your child about this topic.
Also Read: The 5 Best Tablets for Kids of All Ages
Family Link does not protect against this
According to Google, the filters in Family Link do not offer 100% protection against adult content. For example, a child could also see pictures and clips that are not age-appropriate when searching on Google or via YouTube. In addition, Family Link provides up-to-the-minute information on how much time a child has spent with the device per day. However, parents do not know what content their child has consumed on YouTube or other channels, for example.
Family Link does not suppress advertising. Thus, children are also confronted with it. If your child is under the age of 13, Google may not use the data received from the smartphone or tablet to serve ads tailored to children.
Once a child turns 13, parents must renegotiate. Because then it can decide for itself whether, for example, the GPS tracker is switched off.
Also read: How to properly prepare children for the Internet
How to set up Family Link
Once you have clarified all open questions within your family, there is nothing standing in the way of installing Family Link. Allow about 15 minutes for the entire process. It is best to install the app together with your child.
To use Family Link, a parent must have Create a family group using your own Google account. The creator is then also the administrator and can add other family members. Family Link can be set up using an iOS or Android device. The app can be downloaded free of charge from the respective stores.
First of all, one should install Family Link on the parent’s device. It makes sense for them to carry out the installation with their child, because they always need the child’s smartphone or tablet. In the next step, parents will be asked for their child’s Google account. If you haven’t created one yet, you can do that here. The account is necessary for the child to be added to the family group.
A nine-digit code will now appear on the device, which parents must enter on their child’s device and confirm with a password. A ‘Sign In’ button will appear, click on it. Now the child is registered as a member in the family group.
Now follows information about what is possible with Family Link and what is not. We already listed that above. Read the information with your child. When everything is clarified, simply confirm parental supervision by clicking on “Allow”. Also enable Family Link Manager.
The app will ask for a device name on the child’s device. Choose a name together and type it in. Below is a list of apps. These are sorted according to the USK age rating, starting from 0 to 18 or older and are therefore not suitable for minors. Go through the list together and decide with your child which apps are suitable for installation and which are not.
Then you take care of the parental control settings, such as filters or other restrictions. There are default settings for this. Of course, you also have the option of defining the filters according to your own specifications.
This completes the basic installation. As an administrator, Family Link now offers parents the option of making additional settings. The main focus here is on usage restrictions. We recommend the following settings:
- Control what your child can download from the Play Store and what requires permission. You can also customize the content your child can see, whether it’s an app, game, movie, series, book or music. It is best to select the appropriate USK age rating here.
- In Google Chrome settings, check “Block adult sites” and enable Safe Google Search.
- For YouTube videos, choose the setting that is age-appropriate for your child.
In the early days, use the “App activities” menu item to keep an eye on which programs your child uses and for how long. Discuss this with your child and set time limits for individual apps if necessary. Be sure to set times when your child’s device will automatically go to sleep mode. Set these times in a way that makes sense for your child.
Also read: Checking account for children – useful or too early?
Conclusion
Family Link offers parents a great deal of help in accompanying their children on their way into the digital world. However, do not misuse the app as a tracking and monitoring tool. Without trust, your child will not be able to find their own way in the web jungle.
Be more of a trusting companion. Talk to your child about their experiences in the digital world. Listen carefully, show interest. And very important: As parents, be role models. If you stick your head in your smartphone or tablet for hours, your child will too.
Family Link creates a good framework for your child to find their way around the first steps in the digital world. But remember, good isn’t perfect. Even the best filters have weaknesses. Therefore, look lovingly over your child’s shoulder from time to time and talk to your child in advance about possible questionable content.