How to Make Android More Child-Friendly: Essential Tips

• 08 Aug, 2023
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How to Make Android More Child-Friendly

Android devices are incredibly popular among smartphone users, and many parents choose to give their children Android phones. However, it's important to ensure that these devices are child-friendly and safe for kids to use. In this article, we will discuss some steps you can take to make an Android device more suitable for children.

1. Use Google Family Link

Google Family Link is a parental control app offered by Google, the maker of the Android operating system. This app allows you to create a Google child account for your kid and link it with your own Google account. With Family Link, you can implement several useful parental control features:

• You can set screen time limits for your child's smartphone, restricting the number of hours they can use it daily.


• You can control which apps your child can download, ensuring they only have access to age-appropriate content.


• You can filter the content your child accesses via the web, blocking specific URLs and keeping them away from harmful sites.


• Family Link lets you remotely lock your child's device at any time.


• You can track your child's location and ensure they are always within a certain vicinity.

While Google Family Link offers basic parental control features, it may not provide a granular view of your child's device usage or offer meaningful communication options. However, it is a good starting point for ensuring your child's safety on their Android device.

2. Enable Play Store Parental Controls

The Google Play Store is where Android users download apps, and it's important to set up parental controls to restrict access to inappropriate content. The Play Store has built-in parental control settings, allowing you to:

• Use the safe search filter to prevent your child from downloading apps with explicit or inappropriate content.


• Block certain categories of apps, such as gambling or instant messaging.

By setting up content and app filters on the Play Store, you can ensure that your child can only download apps that meet your specified criteria. It's important to note that these restrictions must be configured for each Android device your child uses.

3. Use YouTube Kids

YouTube is a popular video-sharing platform, and many children use it regularly to watch videos. To ensure a safe browsing experience, you can replace the regular YouTube app on your child's smartphone with YouTube Kids, a child-friendly version of the app.

YouTube Kids features curated content specifically created for children, including educational videos. The app also includes parental control settings, allowing you to limit screen time and restrict access to the search tool if desired.

4. Disable Downloads from Unknown Sources

One unique aspect of Android devices is the ability to download apps from sources other than the Google Play Store. This can pose a risk if your child is tech-savvy and knows how to sideload apps by downloading and installing APK files.

To counter this, you can disable downloads from Unknown Sources in your child's phone settings. However, it's important to note that tech-savvy kids may be able to re-enable this setting, so it's crucial to monitor their device regularly and ensure that downloads from Unknown Sources remain disabled.

5. Restrict Unauthorized Purchases

Some app developers employ unethical tactics to trick children into making unauthorized purchases within games or apps. To prevent your child from inadvertently making purchases without your permission, you can take the following steps:

• Head to the Play Store settings and enable the option to require authentication for purchases.


• Choose the "For all purchases through Google Play on this device" option to ensure that a password is required for any in-app purchases.

By enabling this setting, you will have control over any purchases made through the Play Store, preventing your child from falling victim to deceptive tactics used by some app developers. Alternatively, you can use purchase requests via Family Link, allowing you to approve or deny any app downloads or purchases your child requests.

6. Enable Security Lock

Implementing a security lock on your child's device is a simple yet effective step to ensure their privacy and prevent unauthorized access. You can choose from various security lock options, such as a pattern lock, password, PIN, or biometric authentication if their device supports it.

To enable a security lock, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Settings menu on your child's device.


2. Select Security and find the Screen Lock option.


3. Choose the desired security lock option available on the device.

A security lock adds an extra layer of protection, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access the device.

7. Enable SafeSearch on Chrome

Google Chrome is a popular web browser on Android devices, and it's likely that your child will use it to access the internet. To ensure a safer browsing experience, you can enable the SafeSearch filter on Chrome.

SafeSearch helps hide inappropriate content from search results, such as violent or pornographic images. While it's not 100% accurate, it does a good job of filtering out potentially harmful material.

Conclusion

By taking these steps, you can make an Android device more child-friendly and ensure that your child has a safe and enjoyable experience using their smartphone. Google Family Link, Play Store parental controls, YouTube Kids, disabling downloads from unknown sources, restricting unauthorized purchases, implementing a security lock, and enabling SafeSearch on Chrome are all effective measures to protect your child while using an Android device.

Remember, it's important to regularly monitor your child's device usage and have open conversations about internet safety. By combining these measures with parental guidance, you can help your child navigate the digital world responsibly.