Types of Parental Controls

Parental controls come in several types, each addressing different aspects of your child's online activity:

1. Content Filters: These controls block access to websites or content that may be inappropriate for kids, such as violent or adult content. Examples include YouTube's Restricted Mode or Google SafeSearch.

2. Time Limits: These allow you to control how long your child spends on devices or apps each day. For instance, Apple's Screen Time and Google's Family Link let you set daily usage caps.

3. App Restrictions: These prevent your child from downloading certain apps or making in-app purchases without your permission. Many devices allow you to create age-based app restrictions so kids can only access content suitable for their age group.

4. Monitoring Tools: These tools give you insight into your child's online behavior, such as which websites they've visited and which apps they've used. Examples include Bark or Qustodio.

5. Location Tracking: Some parental control tools, like Google Family Link, allow you to track the location of your child's device, giving you peace of mind about their whereabouts.

Customizing Parental Controls Each type of control serves a specific purpose, and you can mix and match them based on your child's needs. For example, you may use content filters to block harmful sites while also setting time limits to promote a healthy balance between online and offline activities.

In the next page, we'll walk you through how to enable parental controls on some of the most popular devices, including smartphones, tablets, computers, and gaming consoles.