PlayStation Family App: New Parental Controls by Sony

PlayStation Family App Launched by Sony for Enhanced Parental Controls

Sony Interactive Entertainment revealed on Wednesday the release of “PlayStation Family,” a specialized parental controls application available for both iOS and Android devices.

This new application introduces a comprehensive suite of features designed to empower parents in overseeing their children’s gaming activities on the PlayStation console.

Key Features of the PlayStation Family App

• Activity Reporting: Parents can now access detailed reports on their child’s gaming habits.
• Enhanced Visibility: Gain a clearer understanding of the games children are currently playing.
• Playtime Management: The ability to approve or deny requests for additional gaming time.

While Sony has previously provided parental controls, this application consolidates all functionalities into a single, easily accessible location, while simultaneously introducing new capabilities.

Parents will receive real-time notifications regarding the games their children are playing. They can then approve or decline requests for extended playtime or access to games with age restrictions.

Daily and weekly time limits can be established, allowing for customized schedules for each day of the week.

The app generates daily and weekly reports, providing insights into the amount of time spent on the console and identifying the most frequently played games.

Content Filtering and Privacy Settings

PlayStation Family also incorporates content filters, enabling parents to configure age-appropriate gaming experiences.

Sony highlights the availability of pre-set configurations tailored to different age groups, which can be further customized to suit individual children’s needs.

Furthermore, parents have the ability to adjust privacy settings and control access to social features within the PlayStation ecosystem.

Financial oversight is also included, with options to add funds, monitor balances, and implement monthly spending limits.

Industry Trend Towards Child Safety

The introduction of this app aligns with a growing industry-wide focus on bolstering child safety within the gaming landscape.

Recently, Roblox, a platform with a significant proportion of users under the age of 12 (approximately 40%), faced criticism regarding its protection of young players.

In response, Roblox expanded its age-estimation technology to encompass all users and collaborated with the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) to implement age and content ratings for games and applications on its platform.