Digital Parenting

DIGITAL PARENTING: TIPS AND TRICKS TO GET STARTED!

Parental Controls on Mobile Phones: A Guide for Parents of Children Under 14 Why Use Parental Controls?

Parental controls help parents:

⏳ Limit screen time �� Block inappropriate content �� Monitor app usage and web activity �� Protect privacy and personal information Parental Controls for iPhone (iOS)

Key Features & What You Can Do

Apple provides built-in parental controls through Screen Time and Family Sharing.

App Limits – Set daily time limits for specific apps (e.g. 1 hour of YouTube)

How to Set Up Screen Time & Restrictions

Downtime – Schedule device-free time (e.g. no phone after 9.00pm)

1. Go to: Settings > Screen Time

Content & Privacy Restrictions – Block explicit content, web searches, and in-app purchases:

2. Tap Downtime / App Limits / Always Allowed / Screen Distance under ‘Limit Usage’ 3. Set a Passcode (only parents should know this!)

For more comprehensive instructions, including managing Family Sharing and advanced features, visit Apple's official parental control guide or scan the QR code on the back page.

Key Features to Enable Disable Account Changes - This prevents children from signing out of the managed account or creating a new one, which can bypass restrictions: Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions

Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions Tap Content Restrictions and choose ageappropriate settings Prevent App Downloads – Block new app installations without approval: Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases Set “Installing Apps” to Don’t Allow Location Sharing – Track your child’s location using Find My iPhone Settings > Family Sharing > Location Sharing

Select Account Changes and set to Don't Allow

Parental Controls for Android (Google)

Key Features & What You Can Do

Android offers Google Family Link for child-friendly device management.

Set Screen Time Limits – Restrict device usage per day or per app

How to Set Up Google Family Link

Approve/Deny App Downloads – Control what apps your child installs

1. Download Google Family Link (on both parent and child’s phone) 2. Create a Google Account for your child (if they don’t already have one) 3. Link your child’s account to Family Link and adjust settings

Content Filtering – Block explicit content on YouTube, Chrome, and Play Store Monitor Online Activity – See how much time they spend on different apps Track Their Location – Use Family Link to check where your child is

Advanced Tips for Managing Social Media & Online Safety Create a Device-Free Bedroom Policy (avoid screens at night) Enable Parental Controls on Your Home Wi-Fi (filter content at the network level, though mobile data can bypass this) Set Up Two-Factor Authentication (extra security for accounts) Use Parental Controls to Set App Limits or Downtime (e.g., disable social media during homework hours)

1

KEEP SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS PRIVATE

Check privacy settings on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook Set profiles to private so only approved friends can see posts Turn off location sharing in social media apps to prevent tracking Keep Social Media accounts private (disable location sharing) Monitor Social Media usage (link accounts or use monitoring apps) Approve their friends & followers (only accept known contacts) Enable Restricted Mode (YouTube, TikTok, etc.)

Set up alerts for inappropriate activity (use Bark, Qustodio, etc.)

Teach digital responsibility (discuss online risks & cyberbullying) Regularly check posts & messages

2

MONITOR SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE ON YOUR PHONE

For iPhone – Link their Social Media accounts to your phone for easy monitoring For Android – Use Google Family Link to restrict access to Social Media apps Use third-party monitoring apps like Bark, Qustodio, or Net Nanny for extra oversight

3

APPROVE THEIR FRIENDS & FOLLOWERS

Teach your child to only accept friend requests from people they know in real life Regularly check their friends list and remove unknown contacts

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4

ENABLE RESTRICTED MODE ON YOUTUBE & TIKTOK

YouTube: Go to Settings > General > Turn on Restricted Mode TikTok: Enable Family Pairing Mode to set time limits and restrict content

SET UP ALERTS FOR INAPPROPRIATE ACTIVITY

Some apps, like Bark, send alerts if your child encounters cyberbullying, predators, or harmful content

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Regularly review their search history and messages for red flags

Additional Tips for Both iPhone & Android Use SafeSearch – Turn on Google SafeSearch or Safari Restrictions to filter explicit content Check Privacy Settings Regularly – Ensure your child’s profiles are private, and friend requests are limited to known contacts Review App Permissions – Check which apps have access to the microphone, camera, and location Use a Family Agreement – Establish clear rules about device use and online behaviour

Final Thought: Stay Involved & Be Proactive Technology is constantly evolving, so parental controls should be reviewed and updated regularly

6

TEACH DIGITAL ETIQUETTE & CONSEQUENCES

Talk about the dangers of oversharing personal information (e.g. school name, location) Explain that anything shared online is permanent – even if it’s deleted Discuss the risks of talking to strangers online and how to recognise predatory behaviour

7

HAVE REGULAR CHECK-INS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY

The best protection is a mix of tech tools and open communication

Make it a routine to sit down and review their posts, comments, and messages together

Set boundaries, stay involved, and don’t be worried about asking for assistance if you need it.

Encourage open conversations about their online experiences

We’re all here to help your child develop healthy digital habits!

WWW.RGSW.ORG.UK

Apple's official parental control guide