What are parental controls?
Parental controls are settings designed to protect your child when they are on a device or online. They allow you to manage their online activity and can be used to:
- Limit screen time
- Filter out inappropriate content
- Restrict purchases in games and app
- Control who can contact your child
Parental controls are available on broadband and Wi-Fi networks, games consoles, apps, and devices. Some parental controls are free, while others may require payment.
What are the potential risks?
Parental controls help to limit children and young people from experiencing:
- Accidental access to adult or harmful content
- Being contacted by strangers on social media or gaming platforms
- Unintended purchases in games or apps
- Excessive time online
Parental controls can be switched off or bypassed without permission. Having open conversations with your child can help them feel more comfortable with parental controls. Check in with your child and the parental controls you have set up to make sure they are effective.
4 things you can do
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Set up home broadband controls. Most internet providers offer filters to block inappropriate content. Visit your provider’s website and look for the “security” or “help” section to get started. Internet Matters offers guides on setting up broadband parental controls.
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Use safe search settings. Encourage your child to use child-friendly search engines like Swiggle.
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Adjust privacy settings on apps and devices. Most platforms offer privacy settings that limit who can contact your child and what content they see. Internet Matters offer guides on setting up privacy settings and parental controls for most platforms and apps.
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Keep communication open. Talk regularly with your child about their online interests. Let them know they can come to you or another trusted adult if something worries them. As they grow, review and adjust the controls and platforms they use.