Google Family Link
{{Short description|Family parental controls service}}
{{primary sources|date=June 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Google Family Link
| logo = Google Families.svg
| logo size = 185px
| developer = Google
| released = {{sda|2017|03}}
| ver layout = stacked
| operating system = {{Plainlist|
}}
| included with = Android 10 and above
| language = Available in 38 languages
| genre = Parental controls
| license = Proprietary freeware
| website = {{URL|families.google/familylink/}}
}}
Google Family Link is a family parental controls service by Google that allows parents to adjust parameters for their children's devices.{{Cite web|title=Google Family Link - Home|url=https://families.google.com/familylink/|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=families.google.com|language=en}} The application allows parents to restrict content, approve or disapprove apps, set screen times, and more. Google Family Link requires Google accounts in order to access the app remotely.
History
The service was first released to the public in March 2017. At Google I/O 2019, Google announced that it would include Family Link natively in Android 10. Family Link is now available in 38 countries including the United States, Australia, and Japan.{{Cite web|date=May 22, 2018|title=Google Family Link is now available in 38 countries - here's the full list|url=https://www.androidauthority.com/google-family-link-app-supported-countries-868121/|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=Android Authority|language=en-US}}
In 2019, the app added content restricting, GPS locating, and "bedtime" phone restriction features.{{Cite web|date=September 18, 2019|title=Google rolls out Family Link per-app time limits and bonus time|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/09/18/google-family-link-per-app-time-limits-and-bonus-time-features-roll-out-broadly/|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}}
Features
File:Google Family Link Child and Teen Logo I.svg
File:Google Family Link Child and Teen Logo II.svg
The Family Link service is split into two different applications, Family Link for Parents and Family Link for Children & Teens. The Family Link for Parents app allows parents to use customizable parameters in order to manage their kids' content viewing.{{Cite web|title=Google Family Link for parents - Apps on Google Play|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.kids.familylink&hl=en&gl=US|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=play.google.com|language=en}} For children & teenagers, the Family Link for Children & Teens app allows the parameters instructed by the parents to manage the kids' mobile device.{{Cite web|title=Google Family Link for children & teens - Apps on Google Play|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.kids.familylinkhelper&hl=en&gl=US|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=play.google.com|language=en}}
Some Family Link features include restricting various content such as websites and applications, managing screen times, locating phones via GPS, and downloading apps from the Play Store.
Another feature available in Family Link is being able to restrict launching pre-installed applications on devices. These include Google Assistant, Google Drive, YouTube, social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, and more.
Reception
Andrew Williams of TechRadar shows in one of his blog posts that the Family Link service "gives you great insights into how your children are using their devices and potentially the content they see on them too".{{Cite web|last=Andrew Williams October 18, 2018|title=What is Android Family Link and how do you use it?|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/what-is-android-family-link-and-how-do-you-use-it|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=TechRadar|date=October 18, 2018 |language=en}}
Ashley Carmen of The Verge shows in one of her blog posts that she is "slightly wary of building a Google data profile of a young child".{{Cite web|last=Carman|first=Ashley|date=March 15, 2017|title=Google built a new app so your kids can have a Google account, too|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/15/14936424/google-family-link-app-release-parental-controls|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=The Verge|language=en}}