Microsoft recently launched a new, useful application called Family Safety. The app gives parents and guardians access to settings for children that apply to Android, iOS, Windows and Xbox. The set screen time is the maximum screen time of the day; despite the device that the child is using.
Microsoft has been testing the app with a handful of users over the past few months, but now the time has come for the rest of the parents and caregivers looking to get to grips with kids’ screen time. The purpose of the app is to let parents and carers determine exactly what a child will see on the device used and for exactly how long they are allowed to do so. They can also set exactly what those kids can and cannot do.
Microsoft Family Safety app for parents and carers
For example, the Family Safety app from Microsoft contains a special web filter that works with the Microsoft Edge browser, which you can use on Windows, Android and even the Xbox game console. This way you can be sure that your child will not see what it should not see at all, such as images that are violent or sexual.
In addition, with the Family Safety app you can set other restrictions on a smartphone, Xbox or for a specific app. And that data is synced between devices, so you prevent the child from secretly continuing on another device. The devices must then be included in your family; if they are with friends, then of course you have no influence on the devices that are used there.
If we keep it on the devices within your family, you can, for example, limit the screen time perfectly. Games available on Android and Xbox, such as the popular game Fortnite, can thus be given the same time limit. Unfortunately, this is not always possible on iOS, as Apple does not give Microsoft enough space to realize the limitations. Only Apple has access to certain parts of the smartphone. If a child really wants to continue gaming because the game is almost over, an extension can still be requested.
Furthermore, the app is able to tell where your children are. The app can also see when two or more members of the family are together.
Microsoft promises more for the future
The features are already great for managing your kids’ screen time, but Microsoft promises to add more features in the future. However, those features are available exclusively to paid Microsoft 365 subscribers.
One such unique feature is the possibilities of receiving a notification when a family member arrives at a place or departs from a specific place. Another function is to gain more insight into the way your children behave behind the wheel. When those capabilities arrive, Microsoft has not yet disclosed.
You can download the app download here for android and download here for iOS.
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