Family safety
A practical family safety plan for phones
No single app keeps a child safe. What works is a mix of conversation, clear rules and the right tools, each doing what it is good at. Here is a plan you can start with this week.
Talk first Clear rules Right tools Review together
Five steps that work together
1. Talk first
Explain what you want to know and why, and listen to what worries your child online.
2. Agree on rules
Screen-free times, which apps are fine, what to do when something feels wrong. Write them down together.
3. Use Android’s controls
Google Family Link and Digital Wellbeing handle app approval, time limits and content filters.
4. Add check-ins
Family Guardian adds live camera and audio check-ins, location on demand and per-app screen time.
5. Review together
Look at screen time together every week or two and adjust the rules as your child grows.
Make everyday browsing calmer
Ads, pop-ups and redirects are where many children land on things they should not see. A browser that blocks them helps: Dynamic Browser blocks ad, tracker and gambling domains, stops pop-up redirects and refuses camera, microphone and location requests from websites. It is not a content filter, so pair it with Family Link’s filters for younger children.
Which tool does what
App approval, daily limits, bedtimes, content filters: Google Family Link, Digital Wellbeing Live check-ins, location on demand, screen time per app, remote ring and lock: Family Guardian Fewer ads, pop-ups and trackers while browsing: Dynamic Browser
Keep trust at the centre
Children who know how and why they are looked after are more likely to come to you when something goes wrong. Use monitoring openly, explain it, and loosen it as they show they can handle more.
Family Guardian is made for parents and guardians on their own minor children’s phones, with the child’s knowledge. The child app shows its status on screen and keeps a notification while it runs. Set it up together and explain what it does.
Frequently asked questions
Many families start when a child gets their first phone. Start with more structure for younger children and give more freedom step by step.
Laws differ by country. In general, parents may supervise their own minor children’s devices; monitoring other adults without consent is not acceptable. Check the rules where you live.
No app does everything well. Combine Android’s own controls for limits and filters with check-ins from Family Guardian.
Related pages
- Parental control that keeps you close, with consentFamily Guardian: live camera check-ins, one-way listen-in, on-demand GPS location, screen time per app and remote ring or lock for your child’s Android phone.Read more
- A safer browser for everyday Android useDynamic Browser blocks ad, tracker and gambling domains, stops pop-up redirects, refuses camera, mic and location requests from sites, and has private tabs.Read more
- How the Parent app and the Child app work togetherHow the Family Guardian Parent app and Child app work together: QR pairing, the parent dashboard, live sessions, alerts and the parent PIN, step by step.Read more
- A fast Android browser that gets out of your wayDynamic Browser is a fast Android browser with a built-in ad and tracker blocker, Chrome-style tabs, private tabs, a smart address bar and a video player.Read more
Get started with Family Guardian
Two Android apps, one family account, about 15 minutes to set up.