Parental Controls
What Google Family Link Can and Can't Do
Google Family Link is the parental controls for Android and Google. It lets you see what your kid is doing, set daily time limits, approve app downloads, and manage their Google account. It helps, and like any control, it works best when your kid knows what's on and why.
Why this matters for your kid
Family Link can show you which apps they use, cap their daily time, make them ask you before they download anything, and even show you where the device is. On a younger kid's first phone or tablet, it's a good place to start.
What it's like for your kid
A rule that felt fair when they were eight can start to feel like being watched when they're thirteen, and kids find ways around it, like a friend's phone, a school Chromebook, a second account, or a web browser instead of the app. It catches some of it, but never all of it.
How to actually use it
Use it to start with, and plan to loosen it up as they show you they can handle more. What you really want is for them to keep telling you what they run into online, including the stuff no control would ever catch.
The Sunday Script
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The words for one hard conversation, in your inbox every Sunday, and a short note once a month. You can stop anytime.
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