Smartphones are part of everyday life for children and young people. But how can parents ensure that their children are able to use the devices correctly? There are various ways to do this on iOS and Android smartphones, but open communication is particularly important.
For adolescents, smartphones are a matter of course. According to the representative JIM study from 2023, 96 percent of all 12 to 19 year olds own their own device. Even though smartphones offer many learning and entertainment opportunities, they also pose potential dangers. That's why it's important for parents to know how to make a child's device safe.
General handling of a parental control
First, parents should agree rules of conduct with their children before making any special settings on the devices. An open dialogue with the child is the most important thing. Media educator Dr. Iren Schulz explains at an Apple family workshop: “Families should talk openly about challenges, limits and solutions.”
It is important to talk to children about safe smartphone use and to explain to them the need for parental controls. Growing users should understand that the measures are there to protect them – and not to spoil their fun. Another relevant aspect is clear usage rules. Parents should agree fixed times with their children when the smartphone can be used in order to ensure a balanced relationship between screen time and other activities.
Expert Schulz continues: “The discussion about children and technology is as important as it is complex. We all have a role to play in teaching children how to use digital media in a healthy way. Parents and schools play an important role. Trust is very important here, and it is also important to keep an overview.”
Only trustworthy apps should be downloaded from official app stores. This can prevent access to malicious software or inappropriate content. Finally, parents should always keep the operating system and all apps up to date to close any security gaps.
Using parental controls on iOS smartphones
Apple offers robust parental control features built into the operating system via the device's settings. The Screen Time feature can be particularly useful for controlling iPhone usage. Parents can, for example, decide that certain apps and notifications are blocked at selected times. App limits can be used to set time limits for applications or app categories, while communication limits regulate who the child can communicate with via the iPhone. Parents can also set content and privacy restrictions to prevent access to inappropriate content.
Another useful feature on iOS devices is Family Sharing. This allows parents to monitor and approve purchases and downloads made by their children. After adding a family member as a child, they can enable Ask to Buy. This ensures that all purchases and downloads must be approved before they can be made on the child's device.
Under the screen time settings, parents can also set content restrictions that ensure access to age-appropriate apps, films, music and books. Website restrictions can prevent access to dangerous or inappropriate websites and thus ensure safer internet use. The “Where is?” app can also be used to see where the child is currently located. There is also the option to be pinged when the child leaves a certain location or arrives somewhere else.
Using parental controls on Android smartphones
Android also offers a variety of options for activating parental controls. One of the best-known and most effective methods is using the “Google Family Link app”. Parents can also use this app to manage their children's smartphone usage. After downloading the app from the Google Play Store and installing it on both your own device and that of your child, you create a Google account for the child or link an existing account.
Settings can then be adjusted to do things like limit screen time, approve or block apps, and generally monitor device activity. The ability to set daily time limits and lock the device at certain times, such as bedtime or homework time, is also extremely useful. Android devices also allow parents to monitor the phone's location in real time, which can provide an additional sense of security.
The conclusion
Parental controls on smartphones are a key step in making the digital world safer for children. Parents should always bear in mind that control and monitoring are not the same thing – and also give their child freedom. Both Android and iOS provide comprehensive tools that parents can use to control device use. By combining technical measures with open communication and clear rules, parents can hopefully effectively protect their children from risks.
By (dr/spot)
