Almost every child has their own smartphone or tablet, which is a window into a huge, attractive and inviting, but far from harmless, virtual world. Parental control tools will help protect minors from harmful information, as well as limit the time they spend on the Internet and playing games. Today they are being developed not only for desktop computers, but also for mobile devices on Android based.

I suggest you get acquainted with several programs that allow you to filter and block unwanted content, and also have other functions useful for parents.

Google Play Features

The simplest parental control tool is present in Android by default - this is one of Google features Play. With its help, you can prevent the installation of applications that are not suitable for the child’s age.

To do this:



The “Content filtering settings” list has 3 sections: “Applications and games”, “Movies” and “Music”. As for music with explicit lyrics, access to it can be either completely allowed or prohibited.

In the other two sections there is a gradation by age (rating) - from 0 to 18 years. Choose something that is age appropriate for your child.

Unfortunately, the Russian version of parental controls Google Play does not filter all the content that is in the store. For example, it will not prevent a child from downloading a comic or book that contains non-childish information. In addition, this option is ineffective if the child knows how to use a browser, so parents of children over 7-8 years old are better off installing a separate security application - one of those that I will talk about later.

Parental controls from antivirus vendors

Parental control on Android can be organized using an antivirus, which may already be installed on your child’s phone or tablet. Such products include, for example, F-Secure SAFE and Quick Heal Total Security.

There are also separate programs of this class from antivirus manufacturers. They can be used either as a supplement to the main product or on their own. Let's take a closer look at some of them.

Safe Kids is available in paid and free versions.

Among its functions:

  • Web content filtering.
  • Search filtering (allows you to exclude search results sites with inappropriate content).
  • Lock your device in set time(excluding calls).
  • Determining geographic location (the parent can find out where the child is).
  • Monitor device usage and send reports to your phone or email parent.

The app is easy to set up and easy to use. All the main ways to protect children's safety are present in it. It is suitable for monitoring both teenagers and young children. But it can only be used by mutual agreement, since it has no protection against uninstallation: if the child objects to the restrictions, he will delete the program without any problems.

Norton Family parental control (Symantec)

Norton Family has almost the same set of features as the Kaspersky product. And it is also available in paid and free versions.

IN free version available:

  • Function for monitoring website visits (logging).
  • Web content filtering.
  • Immediate warning of parents about unwanted actions of the child.

The paid version additionally includes the ability to selectively control access to applications, create a report on device usage for 90 days, and receive weekly or monthly email updates about the time your child spends on the device and the activities on it.

Unlike SafeKids, Norton Family has deletion protection, but some particularly cunning teenagers still manage to disable it.

The range of possibilities is somewhat wider. Available in the free version:

Additional functionality is more suitable for parents of primary schoolchildren who are away from home for a long time.

Standalone parental control apps

Perhaps one of the most functional and flexible parental control tools, but paid (from $5.95 per quarter).

Among its features:

  • Safe search in all popular browsers.
  • Individual settings for blocking sites (black and white lists).
  • Limit web surfing by time (you can create a schedule for every day of the week).
  • Remote control settings and rules (from an adult’s smartphone).
  • Limiting the time you can use the device.
  • Reports on the child’s online activity (time and content of sites visited, search queries).
  • The ability to allow or deny a child access to certain content in real time.
  • Hiding applications not intended for use by children (customizable individually).
  • Blocking applications based on operating time.

Despite the abundance of features, SafeKiddo is quite simple to use. In addition, it can be used to control several children, using separate rules for each.

Kids Zone Parental Controls

Kids Zone Parental Controls are useful for creating separate profiles for children on a device used by an adult. The program is intended mainly for children. Available in free and paid versions.

With Kids Zone you can:

  • Create an individual profile on your phone or tablet for each child, set their personal wallpaper on their desktop. Children's profiles will only display apps that you allow.
  • Protect program settings from changes using a PIN code.
  • Limit the time you use the device.
  • Block outgoing calls and SMS.
  • Deny Internet access.
  • Prohibit downloading and installation of programs from Google Play and other sources.
  • Block access to device settings and personal data of the parent's account.
  • Monitor children's use of the device.
  • Remove the lock by pressing one button (when you need to answer a call).

The only inconvenience of Kids Zone is that it is not translated into Russian. But in all other respects it’s quite good.

In our age information technology Not only adults, but also children often become owners of mobile devices. Many parents give their children smartphones as early as six or seven years old, partly so that the child can always stay in touch, partly for education, games and other children's fun. All this, of course, is wonderful, but, on the other hand, having unlimited access access to the Internet, a gadget can become a source of problems associated with a child viewing dubious, or even clearly harmful content for the child’s psyche.

We are not only talking about so-called sites for adults, this list also includes phishing resources, sites promoting violence and other unhealthy ideas, violent games, paid applications, etc. In addition, spending time on the screen of a mobile gadget, if it takes up a lot of a child’s time, can lead to health problems, reduce school performance, and contribute to the development of computer addiction. Therefore, when buying your child a multifunctional electronic device, parents should take care to make its use as beneficial and safe as possible.

The most optimal solution may be parental controls on the phone - a special function that limits the capabilities of the gadget. Such control can be implemented in different ways, in particular, by means of Android itself, setting Google Play settings and using third party programs. First, let's look at how to set up parental controls on Android using the OS itself.

Creating a separate profile

Starting with version 4.3, Android has the ability to create profiles with limited rights. Go to settings, go to the "Users" section, click "Add user" and select adding a user with limited access.

After this, a list of applications will become available to you; select from it the programs that your child will be allowed to run. You can create several such profiles if more than one child uses the device. Unfortunately, for some reason, some manufacturers remove the “Users” section from the firmware of their gadgets, so if you don’t find it in your settings, you’ll have to act differently.

Google Play Settings

You can enable parental controls on Android in Google settings Play. Launch the store on your phone/tablet, go to the settings section and activate the “Parental Controls” option there.

To change the settings, you will need to come up with, enter and confirm a PIN code.

After this, two filtering settings will become available: “Games and applications” and “Music”.

For applications, you can set age restrictions (from 3 to 18 years), for music there will be a ban on downloading songs with profanity.

There may also be a “Movies” section in the settings; we proceed with its settings in the same way.

Since the rules created in Google Play are in the current account do not have proper protection, you will still have to create a separate user for the child.

Limiting the viewing of videos on YouTube

Separately, it is worth mentioning the filtering of videos with inappropriate content on YouTube. This, of course, cannot be considered full-fledged parental control, but rather additional function, which allows you to exclude from the search videos that have been marked as inappropriate by other users. To enable this feature, go to the YouTube settings on your mobile device and select the switch " Safe Mode" to the "On" position.

Using specialized programs

Now let's see how to set parental controls on an Android phone using third party applications. It's relatively simple, but quite effective method protect your child from inappropriate content. In this regard, the application offers excellent functionality Kaspersky Safe Kids. The program's capabilities include blocking sites, applications, built-in Android functions, limiting the time you use the device and, very importantly, tracking calls, sending SMS and determining location. Kaspersky Safe Kids is highly flexible, has many settings and has its own protection against deletion. Control is carried out through the website my.kaspersky.com/MyKids or using a separate application installed on the parent’s phone.

Safe Lagoon is another good parental control program for Android, working on approximately the same principle as Kaspersky Safe Kids. The program allows you to set up blocking of applications and games, dangerous and unwanted content, monitoring calls and SMS messages, exchanging information via Internet messengers, tracking a child’s location and much more.

The parent installs an application on the child’s gadget, creates a profile, and configures security settings. A corresponding copy of the application is also installed on the adult’s phone from which the tracking is carried out. You can manage parental control settings from the website safelagoon.com/en.

These are not all third-party tools that allow you to set parental controls on Android. We also advise you to pay attention to such programs as SafeKiddo Parental Control, TimeAway, Screen Time and PlayPad - a parental control tool for young users that will not only protect them from the dangers of the Internet, but also contribute to their development.

The development of technology, the reduction in the cost of electronic equipment, as well as the increase in the number of smartphones and tablets have led to the fact that almost everyone has a modern mobile device. However, if an adult is able to figure out for himself what information will be useful for him and what will not, then it is up to children, especially those who have received free access on the Internet, you need constant parental control (on Android devices first of all). However, it is worth checking what your child is doing, regardless of the operating system, but Android is most often installed on inexpensive and affordable gadgets.

Parental control tasks

All the ways to set parental controls on Android serve to perform the following tasks:

  • protect the child from becoming familiar with unwanted information on the Internet (including resources containing violence and pornography);
  • prohibit downloading paid applications, the cost of which can be quite high and significantly affect the family budget;
  • warn loading unknown programs, which may be harmful and negatively affect the operation of the device;
  • reduce the time your child spends on a tablet or smartphone. First of all, so that in addition to games and social networks, he would do lessons and other useful things. Secondly, to ban games during school hours.

In addition, the concept of parental control includes blocking incoming and outgoing calls. This allows you to limit children’s communication with strangers and reduce the child’s expenses for conversations (especially those that are not covered by free tariffication). And such opportunities can be realized both by the settings already available in the Android system and by installing additional programs.

Profile with restrictions

On Android tablets starting with version 4.3, you can create profiles with limited rights. To do this you should:

  1. Go to settings.
  2. Go to “Users”.
  3. Click on the add user button and select a profile with access restrictions.
  4. Set up an account by selecting applications that will not be available to your child, including Google Play.

The created profile allows children to independently customize the design home page. But even when turning on most applications and games, the child will receive either certain restrictions or completely closed access. For example, if parents do not want their children to access the Internet, browsing is limited. And to protect against unreasonable purchases, you should set a password on Google Play or set age restrictions here, as a result of which “adult” applications will be inaccessible.

Not only a tablet, but also a smartphone with firmware CyanogenMod. To switch to an account with restrictions, you just need to press one button. The functionality of the profile intended for the child is set in the system settings.

Online content filtering

Despite the ability to restrict a child's access to certain programs, the Android system does not have built-in functions that protect against certain materials on the Internet. The only way to prevent children from reading inappropriate information is to completely ban them from using the Internet. At the same time, sometimes the network is also needed to perform important tasks - learning languages, searching for information to do homework or self-improvement. Therefore, in order to implement parental control on an Android phone or tablet, you will have to install the appropriate application on them - for example, a built-in server such as OpenDNS or SetDNS.

If you access the Internet using using Wi-Fi network, parents have the opportunity to specially configure the router. Some routers allow parental controls for all devices connected to it at once. Although when using mobile internet this option is useless.

Access to a specific application

If the mobile device has an operating system Android systems 5.0 and higher, you can limit children’s access to third-party resources by simply pinning a specific application to the screen. Thus, the child will be able to use only one program (a game, an educational service, or, for example, a “reader” for books). And to switch to another application, you will have to enter a password.

You can enable such parental controls on your Android tablet as follows:

  1. Open settings screen
  2. Select a security item.
  3. Activate app pinning.
  4. Set protection using a PIN code or pattern.
  5. Click the “Browse” button on the device.
  6. Go to the desired application.
  7. Press the blue button resembling a paperclip to confirm the attachment.
  8. To exit the application attachment mode, click “Browse” again and enter the requested code (or pattern).

Parental Control Launcher

A special “Parental Control” program for Android in the form of a launcher (a shell that allows you to launch other applications) further simplifies the task of restricting access. Its features (some of them are paid, the rest are provided free of charge) include:

  • ensuring access only to authorized applications;
  • blocking purchases through any services;
  • banning calls (both incoming and outgoing) and SMS;
  • restricting changes to device settings (including disabling parental controls);
  • control of the time during which the application is used. For example, you can set the duration of the game to no more than 1 hour per day;
  • prohibition of use mobile device during a certain period (for example, from 8-00 to 13-00, when the child is in class);
  • monitoring the child’s location using GPS and even plotting the path he has traveled over the last 12 hours.

TimeAway app

The small app TimeAway also provides remote parental control on an Android smartphone or tablet. Its use allows:

  • deny access to certain programs (most often games and Internet browsers);
  • check which applications the child launched during a certain period of time;
  • control when the device is turned on and off. As a rule, using this function you can check when the child went to bed.

The advantages of TimeAway are an intuitive interface and great control capabilities. A disadvantage is the poor translation into Russian. Although the opportunity to use the application for free not only during the trial period, but constantly, outweighs this small minus.

KidRead gaming system

Another way to install parental controls on Android is the KidRead launcher. With its help, you can not only prevent children from running certain programs, but also turn the process of using a mobile device into a game. So, to receive points, the child must launch “useful” applications. And when using “harmful” games, the accumulated score decreases. If you run out of points, access to gaming applications is limited.

To prevent children from changing the launcher settings on their own, they are protected using a password or a math problem. And parents can view statistics on their child’s program launches using the official website.

Norton utility

Norton Family Premier (free for 30 days) provides parental controls on your Android smartphone, allowing you to:

  • control your child’s online activities;
  • restrict access to sites with inappropriate content;
  • effectively plan the time you use your smartphone or tablet;
  • receive a notification about a child’s unsafe behavior (visiting a prohibited website, communicating on undesirable topics).

Denying access from Kaspersky

You can organize parental control on Android using antivirus software. For example, F-Secure SAFE, Eset NOD or Avast. There are also separate applications that allow you to protect your child from unnecessary information and prevent him from playing too much instead of studying and doing more useful things. One of the most functional programs of this type is Kaspersky Safe Kids, which is available in paid and free versions.

Among the features of the application from a well-known manufacturer of antivirus software:

  • blocking applications from launching at a certain time;
  • checking the use of a mobile device and creating a report;
  • determining the location of the child;
  • removal of sites with prohibited content from search results.

The Internet is useful and at the same time dangerous, especially if children use it. After all, on the Internet you can find not only useful information, but a lot of negative, harmful and “not childish”. To protect your child from all this, use special programs.

How to set parental controls on Android

The presence of tablets and smartphones in children is not uncommon these days. These are mainly devices running on the Android OS. These gadgets keep the child occupied, but parents should still think about the purposes for which he uses them.

To prevent your child from visiting inappropriate sites, install parental controls on your device. Find out how to do this from our article.

Built-in Android parental controls

The Android system and built-in Google applications are not rich in popular parental control functions. But still, some things can be configured without resorting to third-party programs.

Worth knowing: the location of the options is indicated for pure Android. On some tablets with their own launchers, the settings may be located in a different place and section, for example, in the “Advanced” section.

For the little ones - blocking in the application

The “App Lock” function makes it possible to run one program in full screen and prevent switching to any other software or Android “desktop”.

To enable these features, follow these steps:

  • open Settings, go to Security, and then App Lock;
  • run the option (after reading about its use);
  • run the desired program and press the “Browse” key (square), lightly pull the application up and click on the “Pins” image.

As a result, Android use will be limited to this application until you remove the blocking. To do this, click and hold the Back and Review button.

Parental controls in the Play Store

The Play Market allows you to set parental controls to restrict the installation and purchase of programs.

  • click on the “Menu” button in the Play Store and go to settings;
  • open the “Parental Control” tab, move the push button to the “On” position, and enter your PIN code;

  • set restrictions on filtering games and applications, movies and music by age;
  • To prevent paid purchases of programs without entering your Google account password, use the “Purchase Authentication” section in the Play Market settings.

Parental controls in YouTube

Thanks to certain settings, you can limit the viewing of YouTube videos for children. In the program itself, click on the menu button, go to “Settings”, go to the “General” section and activate the “Safe Mode” item.

Google Play contains programs from Google “YouTube for children”; the restriction parameters are already set here and cannot be disabled.

Users

Android allows you to create a couple of user accounts. To do this, go to “Settings”, and then to “Users”.

In general (apart from restricted profiles, which are rare), it is not possible to set restrictions for a second user, but the function can still be useful:

  • Program settings are saved separately for each user. You can choose not to set parental control settings for yourself, but simply set a password. In this case, the child will have access to the device only through the second user.
  • All passwords, codes and payment data are stored separately for different users.

Important to know! When using multiple accounts, installation and uninstallation of programs is reflected in all Android accounts.

Limited user profiles on Android

The function of creating a limited profile has been around for quite some time, but for some reason it has not become popular and is only available on some tablets. This function is not available on smartphones.

You can find this option by going to “Settings”, then select “Users”, go to “Add user\profile” and “Restricted profile”. If profile creation immediately starts during setup, then your device does not have a profile restriction feature.

Third-party parental control apps on Android

Recently, the parental control function has become in demand, but Android’s own resources are not yet enough. For this purpose, there are many programs for parental control in the Play Market.

Screen Time Parental Controls

The application has a Russian interface and is popular among users.

The program's functions are available for free only for two weeks. Upon expiration given period Only basic options remain available, which are limited to the history of browsing sites on the Internet.

Parental controls from antivirus vendors

You can control the use of Android devices using special antivirus programs, which may already be installed by default, such as F-Secure SAFE and Quick Heal Total Security.

For additional protection, there are separate applications from the creators of antivirus programs. Install an antivirus vendor and limit downloads malware, this way you will protect yourself from troubles.

Kaspersky Safe Kids

Free version of the application for Russian-speaking users. The software supports a lot useful functions: blocking programs, websites, tracking the use of smartphones and tablets, limiting operating time.

For an additional fee, you can use other functions: determining location, tracking VK activity, monitoring calls and messages.

To control a child’s use of the device, a free version of the software is sufficient.

Installation this application on the device used by the child, will allow you to do the following: enter an age limit, specify the child’s name, create a parent account, set special Android permissions that will allow you to control devices and prohibit the removal of programs.

Installing the program on a parent's smartphone will help monitor children's activity on the Internet and establish rules for the use of programs, the Internet and other devices.

While connected to the Internet on the child’s phone, you can control his activities from the parents’ device. By making some changes, parents can protect their children from visiting inappropriate sites.

Norton Family parental control (Symantec)

The software will help protect your child from visiting unwanted sites on the Internet, as well as detect threats in time before they become a problem.

It will also allow you to do the following things:

  • Monitor network usage. Parents will always be aware of what sites their child has visited and block dangerous sites.
  • Monitor the use of programs. You will find out exactly what games your children have downloaded from the Internet, and you will be able to make available for use only those that you consider necessary. You will also find out all the information about the sites that children visit most often.
  • View keys. By reviewing the key phrases that are entered to search for information, the parent will be able to find out what his child is interested in.

Using the application, you can teach your children to use their phone wisely and filter out unnecessary information. This is possible by setting time limits on Internet use.

Parents can set time limits or set a schedule for using the device for their own purposes. You will also be able to receive informational letters by email or on the parent portal about the activities of your children.

With Norton Family, you can develop healthy online habits in your child. Teach your child to use the Internet safely. Explain to him that not all sites are useful and provide good information. If you find out that a child tried to access a prohibited site, explain why it should not be visited.

Thanks to media tracking, you can find out exactly what videos your children have watched, and if you don’t like something, first discuss what you watched, and then block access to the site.

Norton Family will teach your child safe SMS communication and protect him from unnecessary shocks. You can also always find out where the children are thanks to the tracking program.

Bitdefender Parental Control

It will help protect children from the harmful influence of the World Wide Web by limiting visits to sites and time spent on them.

Positives:

  • Multifunctionality (not only sites are blocked, but also a log of visits to social networks is kept);
  • The program runs on a PC, mobile phones and Android tablets;
  • The mobile version of the program makes it possible to track the location of a child.

Negative sides:

  • Shareware operation, after ninety days you have to pay money for further use.
  • There is no Russian localization.

Standalone parental control apps

With the help of offline parental control programs, you will always be aware of where your child is, what he is doing, what his hobbies are and why he needs access to the Internet at all.

SafeKiddo Parental Control

Easy to use application. Installation takes place in automatic mode. The interface is clear and you can control it intuitively.

The software is suitable for Android and iPhone devices. The application works in standard mode and allows parents to control their children's Internet use.

Main functions:

  • safe search when using all browsers;
  • setting up website blocking;
  • managing access to sites;
  • settings management;
  • setting a gadget use limit;
  • recording the child’s activity on the Internet;
  • control of devices in real time;
  • restricting the use of prohibited sites.

With the help of the software, you can easily control the devices of several children at once at will, using individual settings for each of them.

Kids Zone Parental Controls

The software is in demand among users and has a high rating among applications presented on Google Play. Kids Zone is already used by 500 thousand parents.

Download and launch the application, this can be done in just a few seconds.

  • create a profile and select safe sites for your child;
  • set a limit and you can limit your child’s use of the gadget;
  • set wallpaper on the screen that the child chooses himself;
  • install on your device secret code and you can block it from unwanted use.

After installing Kids Zone, the software begins to constantly monitor the device the child is using. If he uses prohibited sites, the software will block them.

Main functions:

  • restricting access to unwanted websites;
  • setting device usage limits;
  • blocking purchases;
  • preventing viewing of inappropriate videos;
  • blocking entry to social networks;
  • re-locking the device after a reboot;
  • preventing deletion installed programs on the device;
  • protection of contacts and settings from reset and deletion;
  • protection of personal data from prying eyes;

Additional features:

  • the ability to create several profiles, for example for each child separately or for each application;
  • countdown, the child will be able to see how much time he has left to play;
  • You can set your own wallpaper for each individual profile;
  • Instant Unlock will enable parents to receive incoming calls while blocked.

Flaws:

  • There is no translation into Russian.
  • The program was specially designed to satisfy all the wishes of parents. Kids Zone has no unnecessary functions; all efforts are aimed at blocking unnecessary entertainment.
  • The software works well on all devices, the main thing is that they work on Android.
  • There is nothing complicated in operating the application, it is specially designed to be easy to handle. You will be able to control the devices of not only small children, but also teenagers.

When choosing a parental control program, be sure to familiarize yourself with its capabilities. Also consider the age of the child.

To understand what exactly you want to block access to, review your website history and you will immediately understand what needs to be blocked.

How convenient it is for parents to be able to always call their child, whether he is, for example, at school or alone at home. Would you know how convenient it is for a child to always be able to play on the phone, surf the Internet, social networks or YouTube, come up with different stories and deceive their parents when they don’t even have the opportunity to check what was said... Although no, of course you know all this , just turn a blind eye to the problem.

Meanwhile, it turns out that the child has uncontrolled access to adult content through the phone. IN social networks There are very bad groups going around, I don’t even want to mention them again. Yes, and by downloading viruses, either voluntarily, or out of ignorance, by subscribing to paid services with payment by SMS, your child will simply charge you a lot of money.

Those. turning a blind eye to a potential problem is stupid. Laziness is also no excuse. There is a solution to the problem, it’s called parental controls on the phone, which should be used. What it is and how it is used read below.

What are phone parental controls

Parental telephone control is a software-implemented set of rules for limiting access to the telephone and the Internet in order to reduce its negative impact on the child under guardianship.

It won't necessarily be some separate program, with which you deny your child access to your smartphone. This could simply be functionality that is already built into operating system(for example, parental controls on an Android phone are described below). This could be, which in addition to the limitations on a smartphone will also provide you with a lot of interesting and very useful features for discreet control and observation of the child, which will allow for more competent upbringing. Even the cellular network operators themselves offer a similar service, limiting the capabilities of the SIM card at the request of the subscriber (not all, you need to check with your operator whether it has such a function).

Typical functionality of parental control programs:

  • Blocking negative Internet content;
  • Ban on downloading paid programs and programs from unreliable sources;
  • Limiting games by time or duration;
  • Location control with control over the crossing of the “protected” perimeter.

Nothing supernatural, just the necessary access restriction capabilities. If you need more, then you should look towards the above-mentioned spyware, which will also allow you to listen to conversations (both on the phone and the surroundings of a switched off device), read correspondence, track movement, turn on the camera, see what the child did on the Internet, with whom chatted, etc.). Those. in this case, you do not so much prohibit as you quietly observe and draw conclusions to make an adequate, informed decision! Although the program at the link above also has an implementation of the ban functionality.

How to set parental controls on an Android phone

We will look at individual programs below. Just as we will not now consider the capabilities of cellular network operators regarding the issue of organizing parental control on the subscriber’s phone. Now let’s see what Android itself offers us to limit a child’s access to bad Internet content and smartphone functions.

User management

This is parental control on a child’s phone with the installation of appropriate restrictions for your child’s user on launching applications and changing settings. Let’s say right away that this opportunity is not available to everyone. android versions and not even on all smartphones. Some manufacturers disable it so that the phone does not slow down. It’s just that if your mobile phone is weak, it’s not convenient. And if a “titled” device starts to slow down because of this, then the manufacturer will spoil its image.

The essence of this approach is to create a separate user for the child. In this case, the user account will have restrictions. To create an account, select the appropriate item in the android settings: “ Settings» - « Users» - « Add user/profile» - « Restricted profile».

Blocking the current application

This is a half-measure function for time constraints or for very young children. However, to some extent, this is also parental control on the child’s phone.

Learn more about how to set parental controls on your phone by locking the application in full-screen mode. IN Android settings you need to select: Settings - Safety - Blocking in the application. Now, looking at everyone running applications on a smartphone, if you drag one of them slightly upward, you will be able to open it full screen and lock it in that position.

How to install play-market blocking

Often you should limit the software capabilities of a smartphone for children. You don’t need to do anything complicated for this - this feature is implemented in Android itself and in the play market. To do this, disable permission to install applications from unreliable sources in the settings (Security section). Set up access to play market by limiting the installation and purchase of applications:

  1. Button " Menu» in the Play Store and open settings.
  2. Enable the item " Parental Controls" (position " On"). Set a PIN code.
  3. Set age restrictions for games, programs, movies and music by age.
  4. Enable the item " Authentication upon purchase", requiring you to enter your account password Google posts to purchase paid applications. Accordingly, do not tell your child this password.

How to set youtube blocking

Another part of the procedure for installing total parental control on an Android phone is restricting access to the “wrong” video for a child through the YouTube setting. To do this, in the YouTube application, go to the menu and select: “ Settings» - « General" and enable the item " Safe Mode».

Or, on Google Play, you can use the separate “YouTube for Kids” application, where a similar function is installed by default and cannot be disabled.

Specialized applications for parental control

We will analyze each individual application in a separate material. Here we will simply list them, adding links to reviews.

In general terms, parental control programs offer a more serious set of functions compared to Android solutions itself. You simply install such a program on your smartphone and make the necessary settings according to the instructions.

Parental controls on an Android phone

  • Screen Time
  • Kid's Shell
  • Safe Lagoon

Parental controls on iPhone

  • KidLogge
  • Qustodio Safe Browser

Restricting access at the level of cellular network operators

If you have read this far, then you are really interested in the safety and effective education of your child. But it is also obvious that you no longer have enough strength to read long explanations. Therefore, we will do the same as with parental control programs - a little general information and links to a detailed overview of the capabilities of different cellular network operators.

The bottom line is this: you order a service (which will probably be paid) by sending an SMS to the number indicated on the official website from the child’s phone and from your own (of course, there will be differences in the encoding or numbers to distinguish the child from the parent). Details or customization options are always operators cellular communications They are always described in detail on the websites. The set of functions is different for everyone. There are operators that allow you to set up tracking of a child’s movements and notify parents when they leave the protected area.

Spyware as parental controls

And the last issue that needs to be considered is installing spyware on your child’s phone. It just sounds threatening. In fact, you will be able to manipulate the child without any pressure on him. This is much more pedagogical than prohibiting everything and limiting everything. After all, trying to predict, we can invent problems. And having received the fact, we know exactly what is wrong, and we have the opportunity to understand how to fix everything.

A simple example: parental Internet control on a child’s phone will not solve the problem of everyday communication in a dysfunctional group of classmates. Well, you ban access to the Internet, but your friend has it. So what next?

Mobile spyware, unlike parental controls on the phone, They don't ban, they watch. You can listen to your child's conversations. Or find out how he communicates in a team by listening to the smartphone’s environment. You can find out where he is now, or where he was during school. And this is just the basic set of functions. More serious ones also have parental control functions. You get two in one - important information and access restrictions. How to install something like this software and where to get it, read the links above.

Conclusions

From the material you learned what parental controls are on an Android phone, how to install additional programs or configure standard restriction mechanisms of the smartphone OS itself.

Now there are a lot of interesting software solutions using cellular networks and mobile devices for the purpose of monitoring and monitoring children. But remember that this is only a half-measure, a tool to help parents raise their children, but it in no way replaces education itself.

We are convinced that lazy parents are not puzzled by this issue, caring ones choose and install parental control programs, and smart and caring ones raise their children. Spyware for phones helps the latter in this matter.

Related materials: