How to restrict content on Google (Android) devices

Content filtering on Chrome browser

SafeSearch content filtering on Chrome browser can be turned on in the Settings on each device, or across multiple devices for your child’s account using Family Link – Google’s parental controls and screen time management system.

Family Link will only work to restrict content if your child is using an Android device or a Chromebook. Most Family Link supervision settings will only have limited functionality on other platforms like iOS.

Turn SafeSearch on in google.com/preferences:
 

Search Settings > SafeSearch filters > check the box “Turn on SafeSearch” > At the bottom of the page, select Save.

google screenshot

Lock SaveSearch > Confirm your child account login > Lock SaveSearch

Google safe search screenshot

Content filtering with Family Link

  1. You need to have your own Google account, if you don’t, create one:

Accounts.google.com > Choose username and password > Follow the steps on the screen

 Family Link Install Family Link for parents app on parent devices.  Install Family Link for children & teens on child devices (2 different apps). Family Link parental controls are also integrated with Digital Wellbeing app that allows parents to manage their own screen time. 

2. You would need to create a Google Account for your child and add your child’s account to your family group, or add supervision to an existing child account.

How to set up Family Link on Chromebooks

New Chromebook

  1. Turn on the new device and follow the instructions on screen to set up the device.
  2. When you’re asked to sign in with your Google Account, tap Create new account. If you don’t see “Create new account,” tap More options first. 
  3. Enter your child’s name, birthday, gender, email address, and password
  4. Follow the instructions to sign in with your own Google Account, provide parental consent, and pick your child’s settings.

Add supervision to Chromebook that's already set up

  1. On your child’s Chromebook, open Settings Settings.
  2. Next to People and then Parental Controls , click Set up.
  3. Follow the steps to setup supervision on the child’s account.
FamilyLink screenshot

How to set up Family Link on Android devices

  1. On your child’s device, open Settings Settings .
  2. Click Google  and then Parental controls.
  3. Click Get started.
  4. Select Child or teen.
  5. Click Next.
  6. Select your child’s account or create a new one for them.
  7. Click Next and then Sign in with your (parent) account.
  8. Follow the steps to setup supervision on child account. 
FamilyLink screenshot

Content filters: what you can control

Manage browsing

By default, SafeSearch is on when supervision with Family Link is set up.

  1. Open the Family Link app Family Link or go to families.google.com
  2. Select your child.
  3. Manage settings and then Filters on Google Chrome.
  4. Choose the setting:
    • Allow all sites
    • Try to block mature sites: blocks sexually explicit and violent sites. 
    • Only allow certain sites: only the sites you allow.
  5. Tap Manage sites to manually allow or block certain sites.

Block particular websites

  1. Open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. On the “Settings” card, tap Manage settings and then Filters on Google Chrome and then Manage sites and then Approved or Blocked.
  4. In the bottom right corner, tap Add an exception Add an exception.
  5. Add a website, including the www. part of the address
  6. In the top left, tap Close Close

Change site permissions

  1. Open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. Manage settings and then Filters on Google Chrome and then Chrome dashboard.
  4. Turn “Permissions for sites and apps” on or off.
YouTube Kids content
  1. Open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your kid.
  3. Manage settings and then More and then YouTube Kids (if they have it installed on their device).
  4. Tap Content level.
  5. Select Younger or Older.
Control access to third-party sites & apps
  1. Go to families.google.com. Sign in with your account.
  2. Below “Members,” select your child.
  3. Select Account info and thenMore and then Third-party apps with account access.
  4. Turn “Allow third-party apps to access {child} account” on or off toggle.

Manage third-party sites & apps on child’s account

  1. Go to the Apps with access to your account section of child’s Google Account. Sign in with your child’s account.
  2. To review what level of account access a site or app has, select it.
  3. To disconnect your child’s account from a site or app, select Remove Access and then OK.

Content filters: Google Play Store

For an individual device (without Family Link)

  1. On the device you want parental controls on, open the Play Store app Google Play.
  2. In the top left corner, tap Menu Menu and then Settings and then Parental controls.
  3. Turn on Parental controls.
  4. Create a PIN that the child doesn’t know.
  5. Tap the type of content you want to filter.
  6. Choose how to filter or restrict access.
google parental controls screenshot
Apps & Games:
Choose the highest content rating you want to allow:
google parental controls screenshot
Movies:
Choose the highest rating you want to allow:
google parental controls screenshot
TV:
Choose the highest rating you want to allow:
google parental controls screenshot
Books:
Restrict sexually explicit books.
Music:
Restrict explicit music.
google parental controls screenshot

Google Play Content filters with Family Link

  1. Open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. Tap Manage settings and then Controls on Google Play.
  4. Tap the type of content you want to filter.
  5. Choose how to filter or restrict access.

Content filters: Google Home speakers & displays

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap Settings  and thenDigital wellbeing and then Set up and then Next.
  3. Choose who you want the filters to apply to:

– Everyone
– Only Supervised Accounts and guests – only google accounts managed with Family Link.

4. Select the devices you want the filters to apply to and then Next.

Video: Only plays videos from YouTube Restricted Mode, YouTube TV Filtered Mode, and YouTube Kids. You can also block all video content or allow all video services without any filtering.

Music: Choose whether to block explicit music, all music or no music.

Additional controls: Choose whether  you’d like to block any of the following features on your speaker or display.

  • Calls & messages 
  • Assistant answers – Limit Assistant answers to basic subjects like weather.
  • Actions – Block third party Assistant actions that aren’t designated as Family Friendly.

YouTube videos and music, YouTube TV:

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap your device and then Settings .
  3. Scroll down to “More,” then tap YouTube settings restrictions.
  4. Turn YouTube Restricted Mode on On or off Off.
  5. Turn YouTube TV Content Filter on On or off Off.

Google Play Music

  1. Go to Google Play Music website. 
  2. In the top left corner, click Settings .
  3. In the “General” section, click the checkbox next to “Block explicit songs in radio.”

Prevent parental controls loopholes

Loophole: If a child signs in with a different (unrestricted) account, parental control settings don’t apply

Solution: Limit who can sign in to your child’s Chromebook

  1. Sign in to the Chromebook with the owner (parent) account. That makes you an admin. If your child is the owner, change it by resetting Chromebook to factory settings.
  2. At the bottom right, click on the time.
  3. Select Settings .
  4. In the “People” section, select Manage other people.
  5. Turn on Restrict sign-in to the following users.
  6. You’ll see a list of all the Google Accounts on your Chromebook. You can add or remove accounts from this list.

Loophole: With Guest browsing parental controls don’t apply

Solution: Disable Guest Mode

  1. If you’re signed in as a guest, sign out.
  2. Sign in to your Chromebook using the owner (parent) account. That makes you an admin. If your child is the owner, change it by resetting Chromebook to factory settings.
  3. At the bottom right, select the time.
  4. Select Settings .
  5. In the “People” section, select Manage other people.
  6. Turn off Enable Guest browsing.

There are many other ways kids bypass parental controls using non-Google tools and settings, which is beyond the scope of this tutorial. If there is a will, there is a way.