Google Family Link brings new supervision tools for parents

Feb 12, 2025

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[[read-time]] min read

Wendi Rieb

Product Manager, Google Family Link

Keeping kids safer online and fostering healthy digital habits is important for parents, and finding the right balance is key. Today, we’re announcing new tools for parents to manage their child’s devices with Google Family Link1.

Family Link’s new look

Family Link’s new design is more intuitive for parents to use and navigate. A new Screen Time tab consolidates all screen-time management tools in a single, easily accessible place. In addition to the app and device-specific usage summary and time limits, the Screen Time tab also makes it easier for parents to set and adjust Downtime and School time.

Parents will find that managing their child’s account, privacy settings and content filters are now easier than ever on the Controls tab. We've streamlined key controls so parents have what they need right at their fingertips, including the ability to manage account data settings, approve app downloads and block specific websites.

Juggling multiple kids and their devices is also getting easier. Simply swipe between child profiles and manage devices from a single page, with more advanced settings just a tap away.

School time on Android

We introduced School time2 on the Fitbit ACE LTE and Samsung Galaxy Watch for Kids as a way to help minimize distractions on smartwatches for children during school hours. Starting next week, we’ll roll out School time support for Android phones and tablets as well.

School time can help reduce distractions, by scheduling limited phone functionality and silenced notifications during school hours. If there is a vacation or planned day off, or even just planned lunches and recess, parents can easily adjust the settings and set a “Break” to fit their children’s schedules.

Parents can choose the apps that are silenced and restricted, and learn which apps their child uses while in School time or outside of it. We understand there are times when certain apps are useful for studying, which is why parents can choose a set of allowed apps, and select which are allowed during School time or in other selected modes.

Parent-managed contacts

Galaxy Watch for Kids launched with lots of new features for kids and parents. In the coming months, we're bringing the ability for parents to approve contacts3 for kids to call and text to Android phones, too. Parents can add these contacts from Family Link directly to their child’s device and limit calls and texts to only those approved contacts. Children can also request to add new contacts to be approved by parents in Family Link.

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