Our modern tech devices are not only convenient for us, but are also educational and entertaining for our little ones – a double-win in our eyes.
However, as with everything in this life, a lack of supervision can turn these handy gadgets into dangerous tools, and we need as much help as possible putting safeguards in place.
This is why we are welcoming Google’s new Family Link service, which launches today in Ireland.
The innovative service is all about putting the power back in the hands of responsible adults, and setting realistic boundaries as our children navigate the technological world.
This service enables parents and guardians to make a direct connection to their child’s phone or tech gadget via their smartphone, and in this way control everything from usage to browsing.
With Family Link, a parent can manage their child’s activity remotely on a number of fronts. Not only can you monitor their activity through weekly or monthly reports, you can also approve or block specific apps or content; you can lock their device when it’s time to play, study or sleep; and you can set screen time limits.
That final addition is particularly important in light of the latest findings in the Growing Up in Ireland study. According to research on seven- and eight-year-olds in Ireland, on a typical weekend day, over half of boys (51 percent) and a third of girls (39 percent) have more than three hours of screen time.
Fionnuala Meehan, Head of Google Ireland, commented on the motivation behind the Family Link service.
“Our goal…is to help parents and children explore technology and the digital world together, while making it easier for them to discover, create and share as a family,” she said.
You can find out more information about Family Link and how to download it, here.
