Google Family Link

Amazing app to help you keep track of your kids screen time

I downloaded this app when I set up my toddlers device(after setting up their email account, so it automatically created the family link which is honestly pretty cool) and it’s helped so much in teaching them the rules we have for screen time. Being able to lock the device when it’s time to be done has helped with the time management and has helped create a schedule that works well for us, because once the device is locked my toddler immediately starts working on a different activity outside of the screen. Previously, switching activities was a bit difficult because they’d be locked onto whatever it was they were doing but having a visual sign that it’s time to be done helps them switch that part of their brain off and turn to something else. I honestly dont know how I never heard of this app before now

Reviewed on version 2.46.29753

No

I see a lot of self centered parents in these reviews. I recommend finding a more proactive way of keeping your kids safe. I see a lot of reasons this app would be helpful. But snooping through messages is not it. Children need privacy to grow. This app allows way too much control. Moderate control is what we need. But complete control over your child is ABSOLUTELY absurd. This just opens a whole other level of parental control, and makes it easy to do. Which just makes the next step easier to do! The next step being? Abuse. Don't be surprised when your child doesn't share important things with you. You may wonder why. But it's a simple answer. YOU forced them to share their personal information. What makes you think they'll want to share it willingly? You forcefully share their phone data to you. But what about the rest of their personal information? The information that isn't on a phone? I would argue that the information NOT on your phone is way more vital to your child's well-being. They're not going to share that with you. Not after you force them to share all the data on their phone 24/7. You can hide your mental health from this app. Just don't text about it. Your child is obviously not sharing their mental issues with you. I mean you downloaded this, they obviously won't trust you. But let's just take away the ability for them to text their friends (the only ones they trust) when their feeling sad! Am i right! This app SCREAMS "i don't trust you". Why would they trust you if you don't trust them? Disgusting, and quite literally vile.

Reviewed on version 1.82.19658

You don’t need this app, you need better communication.

Hi parents!!! As somebody who doesn’t have this app on their phone anymore, but used to, I wanna give you some of my perspective on this app. I understand that you care about your children’s safety and that’s amazing! But this is NOT the way to keep them safe. First of all, I’d like you to put yourself in their shoes for a moment, how would THEY feel??? Because from experience I know, this only makes them act out more. They get better at hiding it, but this app does seriously no favors for your child OR their behavior. This literally breaks all trust that your child has in you. If you think you need this app, you don’t. You need to have a conversation with your kids about internet safety, and some OCCASIONAL checks of their device, nothing too invasive, just a simple scan to make sure nothing sketchy is going on. But this app is incredibly invasive and genuinely feels suffocating. Please never get this app, your children's trust in you will be shattered. Plus, it has so many glitches anyway, it’s super slow too. (That might just be my wifi, but you get the point.) This app may turn their phone on and off when you please, but trust is hard to turn back on after turning it off. Please, you don’t need this app. You need to have a conversation with your kids about being safe on the internet. If you are REALLY concerned, like I said, do a general check of their phone. Even then, if you find something sketchy. TALK. TO. THEM. ABOUT. IT!!!! YOU. DONT. NEED. THIS. APP.

Reviewed on version 2.35.28343