When creating family rules and expectations for wireless device use, talk to your kids about the importance of safely using apps, agree on the applications that are okay for them to use, and set permissions for downloading new apps or making in-app purchases. You can regularly review the apps your kids are using and revisit family rules as your kids age and mature.
If you need an additional level of oversight for app downloads or in-app purchases, wireless devices have built-in parental control settings that allow parents to restrict any new app installations without password permission. Follow the instructions for your specific operating system to enable these features on your kids’ devices.
If your kids ask to download a new app or make an in-app purchase, do your own research to ensure you understand how the app or add-on purchase works, how it collects data, and the security features and parental controls available to keep your kids safe. Each new app download or in-app purchase is a good opportunity to revisit the family rules together with your kids.
Apps will often come with adjustable security and parental control settings and as a parent you will have the ability to turn these on and off. Ensuring that these settings and features are turned on can help you keep your kids’ and their information safe when using their devices. Setting your kids app profiles to private is another tip for keeping them safe by limiting who can view and interact with their profile.
Set family rules for app use and downloads.
When creating family rules and expectations for wireless device use, talk to your kids about the importance of safely using apps, agree on the applications that are okay for them to use, and set permissions for downloading new apps or making in-app purchases. You can regularly review the apps your kids are using and revisit family rules as your kids age and mature.
Restrict app downloads and in-app purchases on your kid’s device.
If you need an additional level of oversight for app downloads or in-app purchases, wireless devices have built-in parental control settings that allow parents to restrict any new app installations without password permission. Follow the instructions for your specific operating system to enable these features on your kids’ devices.
Do your own research before your kid downloads a new app.
If your kids ask to download a new app or make an in-app purchase, do your own research to ensure you understand how the app or add-on purchase works, how it collects data, and the security features and parental controls available to keep your kids safe. Each new app download or in-app purchase is a good opportunity to revisit the family rules together with your kids.
Enable adjustable privacy and parental control settings within each app.
Apps will often come with adjustable security and parental control settings and as a parent you will have the ability to turn these on and off. Ensuring that these settings and features are turned on can help you keep your kids’ and their information safe when using their devices. Setting your kids app profiles to private is another tip for keeping them safe by limiting who can view and interact with their profile.
Explore Specific Tips for Popular Apps:
Social Media
Video Games
Video Streaming Services