Lock Down Your Android Device for Kids - Parental Controls

Android's Evolving Parental Control Capabilities

Over time, Google has consistently expanded the suite of parental control features integrated within the Android operating system.

These tools empower users to manage their children’s digital experiences effectively.

Available Control Options

Several methods are available for overseeing a child’s Android usage. These include creating a dedicated, restricted user profile for the child.

Furthermore, it’s possible to lock access to individual applications, preventing unauthorized use.

Restrictions can also be placed on website access, ensuring children only visit pre-approved online content.

Variations Based on Device and Android Version

The availability and appearance of these features can differ.

This is due to variations in Android versions and customizations implemented by individual device manufacturers.

Consequently, not all users will have access to the exact same set of parental control options.

It's important to explore the settings on your specific device to determine what functionalities are present.

Limiting Functionality to a Single Application

Related: Guidance on Utilizing Screen Pinning in Android 5.0 to Enhance Security and Privacy

Devices running Android 5.0 Lollipop and subsequent versions offer a feature allowing users to "pin" a particular application to the screen. This functionality enables secure device sharing, such as providing a phone or tablet to a child while restricting access beyond the designated app.

For instance, a game can be launched and pinned, ensuring a child remains within that application and cannot access sensitive information like email or inappropriate websites. Alternatively, this feature is ideal for confining children to specific educational applications.

Enabling this capability requires navigating to the Settings menu, then selecting Security. Within the Security settings, locate and activate "Screen pinning" under the "Advanced" section. Configure the system to request your PIN or unlock pattern before an app can be unpinned.

Subsequently, launch the desired application. Access the list of currently open applications by tapping the "Overview" button, which displays them as cards. Swipe up on the app's card and tap the pin icon located in the bottom-right corner.

Exiting a pinned application is achieved by holding the "Overview" button. If configured, you will be prompted to enter your PIN or unlock pattern for verification.

 

Configuring a Restricted Profile on a Tablet Device

Related: Guidance on Managing a Child’s Android Phone Utilizing Google Family Link

The Android Lollipop operating system introduced restricted profiles, a functionality initially available in Android 4.3. It’s important to note that restricted profiles are exclusively supported on tablet devices, not smartphones.

A restricted profile enables the creation of a dedicated user account with access limited to only those applications and content specifically authorized by you. This provides a controlled digital environment.

Google initially implemented multi-user account support in Android 4.2, but this was limited to tablets. With the release of Android 5.0 Lollipop, multiple user accounts became available on both phones and tablets. However, the restricted profile feature remains exclusive to tablets.

To establish a restricted profile, navigate to the Settings menu, select Users, then tap Add User, and finally choose Restricted Profile. Following this, you can secure the profile and seamlessly switch between it and the primary user account directly from the lock screen.

Returning to the main user account will necessitate your PIN or the unlock method you have configured. This ensures the primary account remains protected.

In theory, restricted profiles should allow for granular control over content access within individual applications. However, this functionality relies on implementation by app developers.

Consequently, the primary method of control involves selecting which applications installed on the device are accessible within the child’s restricted profile.

Establishing Web Filtering

Related: 4 Methods for Implementing Parental Controls on Your Home Network

It's important to note that the restricted profile functionality within Android does not inherently offer a mechanism to block access to adult content via web browsers like Google Chrome.

To achieve this level of control, two primary approaches are available. One involves downloading and installing a parental control or web-filtering application from the Google Play Store on the Android device itself. Alternatively, if the device will primarily connect to the internet through your Wi-Fi network, configuring parental controls directly on your router is a viable solution.

Should your router lack integrated parental control capabilities, consider changing your DNS server to OpenDNS and leveraging its parental control features. We recommend utilizing OpenDNS and its highly-rated parental controls whenever feasible, as numerous Android web-filtering applications demonstrate limited effectiveness.

Furthermore, many of these apps may necessitate ongoing paid subscriptions.

 

Google Play Store: Implementing Parental Controls

Parental controls within the Google Play Store offer a means of managing your children’s digital experiences. This is particularly relevant when considering how to prevent substantial spending on in-app purchases.

Accessing these features is straightforward. Begin by launching the Google Play Store application on the desired device. Then, navigate to the Menu, followed by the Settings section, and finally select Parental Controls.

Setting Age Restrictions

A dedicated PIN, designed for parental use, must be established. This PIN then enables the configuration of age-based restrictions. These restrictions govern the types of apps, films, video content, music, and books that can be downloaded onto the device.

Without the correct PIN, users of the device will be unable to download or make purchases of content falling within the restricted categories. It’s important to note, however, that these limitations are exclusive to the Google Play Store itself.

Content accessible via a web browser remains unrestricted, meaning children can still potentially access uncensored material through alternative routes.

Controlling In-App Purchases

Beyond age restrictions, Google Play allows for additional security measures. Specifically, you can implement controls to prevent unauthorized or excessively large in-app purchases.

This feature provides an extra layer of protection against unexpected charges and helps manage spending habits.

Managing Data Consumption on Android Devices

Allowing children access to smartphones represents a significant level of trust. However, granting them access with an unmonitored data plan introduces a further layer of responsibility. Android provides several integrated settings designed to assist in preventing excessive data usage by your child.

Further Reading: A Guide to Tracking and Decreasing Data Consumption on Android

Navigate to the primary Settings menu, then select Connections, followed by Data usage. Within the top-level "Usage" menu, you can establish a data warning threshold based on the parameters of your child’s data allowance. It’s important to note that data utilized over a Wi-Fi network will not be counted against this limit.

Consider configuring the warning slightly below the actual data cap to provide your child with advance notice to moderate their usage.

The Data Saver function can also be activated. This feature reduces or restricts background data activity for applications. Detailed information regarding its operation can be found here.

Alternatively, data limits can be implemented directly through your mobile carrier. AT&T offers Smart Limits for a monthly fee of $5, enabling restrictions based on time of day. Verizon’s FamilyBase service, also priced at $5 per month, provides alerts when a predetermined data amount has been consumed.

T-Mobile and Sprint also provide options for controlling data access. T-Mobile allows free data restriction during specific times via the Family Allowances page, while Sprint offers similar controls through its Limits and Permissions section.

Alternative Parental Control Solutions

The open nature of Android means a wide variety of "parental control" applications are readily available through the Google Play Store, offering varying degrees of restriction. Many of these apps enable the creation of a customized application launcher, limiting access to only pre-approved applications for a child.

Such applications may be less crucial if the built-in "restricted profiles" functionality is accessible on your device.

The primary justification for installing a dedicated app, even with native Android parental controls available, often centers around the need to control website access.

Alternatively, the guest account feature integrated into Android Lollipop can serve a similar purpose. Creating a distinct user account is also an option on tablets running Android 4.2 or newer, and on phones with Android 5.0 and subsequent versions.

These accounts, unlike restricted profiles, cannot be directly managed with parental controls, but they effectively isolate a child from your primary user account.

This isolation prevents unauthorized access to your email and safeguards other confidential information from potential tampering.

A key distinction lies in the guest user account's ability to be completely reset between uses. In contrast, standard user accounts and restricted profiles retain data and settings across sessions.

• Data Preservation: Restricted profiles and standard user accounts save data.
• Reset Functionality: Guest accounts can be wiped clean after each use.