Parental Controls
How to use parental controls and other tools to maximise online safety in your home.
Know your devices
All the devices that connect to the internet in your home offer lots of benefits. But you also need to understand the risks associated with these devices and how to protect yourself and your family.
Explore how to use parental controls:
- on your home Wi-Fi network
- built into devices, including computers, mobile devices, gaming consoles and smart TV
- through third-party software
- in apps and programs, including streaming services, web browsers and search engines
Use parental controls
Parental controls are software tools that allow you to monitor and limit what your child sees and does online.
They can be set up to do things like:
- Block your child from accessing specific websites, apps or functions (like using a device’s camera, or the ability to buy things).
- Filter different kinds of content — such as ‘adult’ or sexual content, content that may promote self-harm, eating disorders, violence, drugs, gambling, racism and terrorism.
- Allow you to monitor your child’s use of connected devices, with reports on the sites they visit and the apps they use, how often and for how long.
- Set time limits, blocking access after a set time.
If a device or program is shared by multiple members of your family, you should be able to change the tool settings to reflect each user’s age and skills.
Parental controls
This video helps parents and carers to understand more about the different parental controls available and which settings are best suited to your family. It’s designed for parents of kids aged 4 to 13 years old.
No parental control tool is 100% effective. Helping your child build good online safety habits is just as important.
On your home Wi-Fi network
Some Wi-Fi routers come with software that allows you to set up parental controls across your whole family's Wi-Fi network. The advantage of this is that the rules you make are applied on all your connected devices — laptops, tablets, smartphones, even game consoles and smart TVs. However, you don't always get the same level of control and monitoring that you get from software installed on each device.
Search online for child-friendly Wi-Fi products using terms like ‘child-friendly routers’, ‘child-friendly Wi-Fi’, ‘family-friendly routers’ and ‘child-safe Wi-Fi'. Or check out the products accredited through the Family Friendly Filters scheme
Some internet service providers (ISPs) provide routers incorporating parental control features as part of their broadband products.
Built into desktop and laptop computers
PC/Windows
Microsoft Family provides the ability to manage your children’s online activity on Windows devices through website blocking, checking in online at any time, and viewing activity reports on sites, apps and games visited. You’ll need to set up a family group of at least one parent and one child, each with their own Microsoft account.
Mac OS
The OSX Parental Controls allow you to set profiles for each child to do things like limiting access to websites or apps, restrict functions like Siri or the iTunes store, set time limits for days of the week and for bedtime, and hide profanity in the dictionary and other sources.
Built into mobile devices
Apple tablets and smartphones
Apple operating systems from iOS12 enable you to restrict access to browsers and applications, in-app purchasing, social networking, inappropriate internet content, sharing of data (including photos and location), media streaming and online gaming. .
Android tablets and smartphones
Although Android has no general built-in parental control features, Android devices can be controlled using Google Family Link. See using third-party software below.
You can also set up parental controls on Google Play to restrict the content your child can download or purchase.
Built into gaming consoles and smart TVs
Every major gaming console provides parental control measures to help parents manage their child’s gaming activity.
Smart TVs offer all the exciting opportunities — and the risks — that come with being online. Most provide some form of parental control, even if it is just a PIN code locking certain features. You could also consider disconnecting the TV from the internet if you are not using the ‘smart’ features.
Using third-party software
Commercial software
Commercial software can provide additional control and convenience, generally for a price.
Some products are designed to be installed on each device. Others use special hardware in conjunction with your Wi-Fi router. Some are accredited under the Family Friendly Filters scheme.
They tend to operate as a subscription service, with pricing tiers aligned with the number of devices. Compatibility with macOS and iOS can vary and some offer free versions for basic protection on a limited number of devices. To find a filter that is right for you search online using terms like ‘internet filters’ or ‘family filters’ and check out review sites.
Google Family Link
Family Link is an app developed for families with children under the age of 13 who have an Android device. It enables you to set screen time limits, review app permissions (such as their camera, location, contacts), block apps and approve downloads, block sites and filter content.
You and your child need to have Google accounts and be signed in. It is worth reading the parent disclosure statement.
Mobile service providers
Your mobile phone service provider may also offer parental control tools as part of a mobile phone plan.
On streaming services
Subscription services such as Netflix, Stan, Foxtel Now and Amazon Prime all provide parental controls for families to ensure children at various stages of development do not access inappropriate material.
YouTube Kids offers family-friendly content along with parental controls that can set time limits on apps and turn off search functionality. See the YouTube Kids Parental Guide
Web browsers and search engines
Web browsers provide the door to the online world, and search engines are the way we explore that world. We all use search engines to find information online, and so do our kids, but with that open access comes the risk of seeing inappropriate material.
Safe browsing tips
- Encourage younger children to always ask an adult before clicking on an 'Accept' or 'OK' button on a website as sites may display other messages or disclaimers that require a response.
- Help minimise the risk of your child coming across unsuitable websites accidentally by setting up bookmarks in their browser for sites you would like them to use.
Child-friendly search engines
Child-friendly search engines aim to exclude inappropriate sites and material from search results while making sure content relevant to the search is provided.
You can find a child-friendly search engine that best suits the needs of your family by researching them online. This can then be set as the default browser available to your child, with some search engines also available as apps.
Be aware many search engines can contain advertising, and there is always a risk that inappropriate material may still slip through.
Safe search settings
In most search engines, you can activate ‘SafeSearch’ to filter the search results so they don’t include inappropriate or explicit content like pornography. For example: Google, Bing and Yahoo7.
SafeSearch isn’t 100% accurate, but it can help you avoid explicit and inappropriate search results on your phone, tablet or computer.
Your family on Google
Google offers the ability to create a family group with up to six family members to manage various Google products and features. Google Family Safety Centre contains general advice and information for families and direct links to tools and resources Google’s Digital Wellbeing provides tools and information aimed at helping all users improve their digital wellbeing. It includes tips for parents on how to help their child form a balanced relationship with all things digital.
The YouTube Safety Centre provides safety tips, including advice on keeping personal videos private, cyberbullying, spam and phishing; as well as information about how to protect identity and appropriately manage interactions with other users, tips on how to be a responsible digital citizen and how to use the community flagging system.
Information sourced from the eSafety Commissioner.