Google Family Link app redesign adds a dedicated locations tab
Google is redesigning its parental control Family Link app with an easier interface and new features, like the ability to get alerted when their kids leave known locations (like school) and when they get home. Family Link lets parents manage Android devices for their kids by setting screen time limits and more, all from a control app on the parent’s phone.
The app is receiving a significant facelift from the version that was initially released in 2017. It now gives parents a simplified interface with three tabs: Highlights, Controls, and Location. The app is updated on Android and iOS, and Google is also releasing a new web-based version of Family Link that lets parents keep tabs on a computer, and kids can review their settings on the web as well.
In Highlights, parents can get an at-a-glance overview of apps kids are using and installing, how long they use them, and other useful information like if they’re trying to go to a site that is deemed restricted. Google now uses partner companies Common Sense Media, ConnectSafely, and Family Online Safety Institute to help provide resources for parents that need help navigating conversations with how their children are using the internet.
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The Controls tab is where parents can set limits for screen time and permissions for apps, and now there’s a feature that allows changing