Parental Controls: How to Keep Kids Safe Online

By Ammar Aslam · Updated September 1, 2026 · 9 min read

Children today grow up with phones and tablets in their hands. The internet offers them learning, creativity and connection, but also inappropriate content, online strangers, scams and endless screen time. Parental controls help, but they work best alongside open, ongoing conversations.

This guide shows you how to set up the main built-in tools for free, and the habits that keep children safer as they grow older.

Match controls to your child's age

Age	Suggested approach
Under 8	Use devices together, approved apps only, strong content filters
8–12	Filters, app approval, screen time limits, regular check-ins
13–17	Gradually more freedom, privacy settings, focus on trust and judgement

Android: Google Family Link

Google Family Link is free and works on most Android phones and tablets.

Install the Google Family Link app on your own phone.
Create a Google account for your child, or link their existing account, and follow the setup steps on their device.
From your phone, you can then:

Approve app downloads from the Play Store.
Set daily screen time limits and a bedtime when the device locks.
Block or limit specific apps.
Filter websites in Chrome and turn on SafeSearch.
See the device's location.

iPhone and iPad: Screen Time

Set up Family Sharing in Settings → [your name] → Family, and add your child.
Go to Settings → Screen Time and choose your child's name.
Set a Screen Time passcode that your child does not know.

Useful options include Downtime (scheduled time away from the screen), App Limits, Content & Privacy Restrictions to filter adult websites and explicit content, and Ask to Buy, which requires your approval for downloads and purchases.

YouTube

For young children, use the YouTube Kids app, where you can choose content by age group or approve specific channels.
For older children, supervised YouTube accounts can be managed through Family Link with content settings for their age.
On any account, turn on Restricted Mode at the bottom of the account menu to hide potentially mature content.
Turn off autoplay to prevent endless watching.

Windows PCs: Microsoft Family Safety

Give your child their own Microsoft account, then add them to your family at family.microsoft.com. You can set screen time limits, filter websites in Microsoft Edge, block inappropriate apps and games, and receive activity reports. Make sure your child uses a standard account, not an administrator account, so they cannot change settings.

Home Wi-Fi filtering

Many routers include parental controls that pause internet access for specific devices at bedtime or block certain websites. Some families also use family-safe DNS services, which filter adult content across every device on the home network. Remember that home filtering does not apply when a child uses mobile data or a friend's Wi-Fi.

Games and messaging apps

Online games often include chat with strangers. Check the game's settings, and the console or platform's parental controls, to limit chat to friends or turn it off. Set spending limits so in-game purchases need your approval. For messaging apps, follow our social media privacy guide to keep profiles private and stop strangers adding children to groups.

The conversations that matter most

No filter is perfect, and children often find ways around them. What protects them most is knowing they can come to you without fear of punishment. Talk regularly about:

Strangers online: people are not always who they say they are.
Personal information: never share your address, school, phone number or photos with people you only know online.
Secrets and pressure: any adult or older child asking them to keep secrets, send photos or meet in person is a red flag, and they should tell you straight away.
Scams: free game currency and prize offers are usually traps. Our phishing guide covers common tricks.
Kindness: how to handle and report bullying, and why not to join in.

Healthy family habits

Keep devices out of bedrooms at night.
Agree on screen-free times, such as meals and homework.
Create a simple family agreement together about devices and online behaviour.
Show interest in the games and apps your children enjoy.

Remember: parental controls are a seatbelt, not a replacement for driving lessons. Combine sensible settings with trust and regular conversations.

Frequently asked questions

At what age should my child get a smartphone?

There is no single right age. Consider their maturity, why they need it, and whether a basic phone would meet that need first.

Is it okay to read my child's messages?

For young children, close supervision is sensible. For teenagers, openly agreed rules usually work better than secret monitoring, which can damage trust.

Ammar Aslam
Ammar writes clear, practical tech guides that help everyday users fix problems, stay safe online and get more from their devices.