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How to Use Google Family Link?

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Introduction

In This Guide
You'll Learn:
  • What Family Link is
  • How to set up Family Link
Family Link

1 What is Family Link

Google Family Link allows a parent to monitor and filter some content a child has access to on their Android tablets, smartphones, and Chromebooks. It provides some of the same features when the child is using Google services and programs on a browser they're signed into with their Google account.

Google Family Link lets you limit and monitor your child's access to certain content on Google services when they're signed in. You can do this through an app on your smartphone, or a website on your computer.

No filtering technology is 100% perfect. The best solution is active, engaged parenting; working with your child to ensure they develop good habits through your instruction and guidance.
Google Family Link cannot monitor the entire Internet, only services and devices signed in with the child's Google account.

Hardware Devices

Google Family Link affords you the most monitoring and control over Google Account-based devices.

Android Phones and Tablets
Android LogoOn an Android tablet or phone the parent can:
  • See what apps are installed
  • Block access to apps for a time
  • Remove apps from the device
  • Require approval for new apps to be installed
  • Set a bedtime when the phone won't allow access
  • Set general screen-on time limits
  • Lock the device remotely
Even with these restrictions, your child is always still able to call you to check in or for emergencies.
Chromebooks
ChromebookOn a Chromebook the parent can:
  • See what apps are installed
  • Block access to apps for a time
  • Remove apps from the device
  • Require approval for new apps to be installed
  • Set general screen-on time limits
In general, the Google account signed into the Chromebook, the child's in this case, will be used for all Google services. You can be more sure that rules you set up for Google's Internet Services (below) will follow these rules more closely.
If the device is not signed into the child's Google account, or is signed into a guest account, Family Link has no way to monitor or restrict the device.

Internet Services

Google Family Link provides some monitoring and control over these web-based services.

YouTube
YouTubeGoogle Family link can help you manage what your child can see on YouTube. You can:
  • Completely block access to YouTube
  • Turn on Restricted Mode, filtering out much of the more adult-oriented content
  • Restrict YouTube to YouTube Kids; a special, heavily curated set of videos designed specifically for very small children, and no ability to search for other videos
  • Monitor what videos are watched
Google Search
GoogleFamily Link will let you:
  • Turn on Safe Search
  • Review what has been searched for
Google Chrome Browser
Google ChromeWhile fewer, you can control some aspects of the Chrome Browser with Family Link:
  • Review browsing history
  • Basic website blocking and filtering capabilities
If the browser is not signed into the child's Google account, or is signed into a guest account, Family Link has no way to monitor or restrict the content on the services.

Google Families

Google Family Link is one part of a much larger service; Google Families.

While this guide will focus on Family Link, a large number of other Google services, both free and for a price are available. For more information, visit families.google.com with your web browser for more information.

? Would you like to setup Family Link?

  1. Yes
  2. I already have Family Link setup, I want to add my child to my Family Link account
  3. No, I do not want to setup Parental Controls at this time.

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In This Guide
You'll Learn:
  • What Family Link is
  • How to set up Family Link
Family Link

Google Family Link allows a parent to monitor and filter some content a child has access to on their Android tablets, smartphones, and Chromebooks. It provides some of the same features when the child is using Google services and programs on a browser they're signed into with their Google account.

Google Family Link lets you limit and monitor your child's access to certain content on Google services when they're signed in. You can do this through an app on your smartphone, or a website on your computer.

No filtering technology is 100% perfect. The best solution is active, engaged parenting; working with your child to ensure they develop good habits through your instruction and guidance.
Google Family Link cannot monitor the entire Internet, only services and devices signed in with the child's Google account.

Hardware Devices

Google Family Link affords you the most monitoring and control over Google Account-based devices.

Android Phones and Tablets
Android LogoOn an Android tablet or phone the parent can:
  • See what apps are installed
  • Block access to apps for a time
  • Remove apps from the device
  • Require approval for new apps to be installed
  • Set a bedtime when the phone won't allow access
  • Set general screen-on time limits
  • Lock the device remotely
Even with these restrictions, your child is always still able to call you to check in or for emergencies.
Chromebooks
ChromebookOn a Chromebook the parent can:
  • See what apps are installed
  • Block access to apps for a time
  • Remove apps from the device
  • Require approval for new apps to be installed
  • Set general screen-on time limits
In general, the Google account signed into the Chromebook, the child's in this case, will be used for all Google services. You can be more sure that rules you set up for Google's Internet Services (below) will follow these rules more closely.
If the device is not signed into the child's Google account, or is signed into a guest account, Family Link has no way to monitor or restrict the device.

Internet Services

Google Family Link provides some monitoring and control over these web-based services.

YouTube
YouTubeGoogle Family link can help you manage what your child can see on YouTube. You can:
  • Completely block access to YouTube
  • Turn on Restricted Mode, filtering out much of the more adult-oriented content
  • Restrict YouTube to YouTube Kids; a special, heavily curated set of videos designed specifically for very small children, and no ability to search for other videos
  • Monitor what videos are watched
Google Search
GoogleFamily Link will let you:
  • Turn on Safe Search
  • Review what has been searched for
Google Chrome Browser
Google ChromeWhile fewer, you can control some aspects of the Chrome Browser with Family Link:
  • Review browsing history
  • Basic website blocking and filtering capabilities
If the browser is not signed into the child's Google account, or is signed into a guest account, Family Link has no way to monitor or restrict the content on the services.

Google Families

Google Family Link is one part of a much larger service; Google Families.

While this guide will focus on Family Link, a large number of other Google services, both free and for a price are available. For more information, visit families.google.com with your web browser for more information.

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