Parental controls: Reasons why Android devices are safer for your children

You can be proactive about how your child uses their phone, regardless of the kids phone you decide on. Picture supplied

You can be proactive about how your child uses their phone, regardless of the kids phone you decide on. Picture supplied

Published Jun 1, 2023

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According to SafeWise, a pioneer in unbiased home security reviews, comparisons, and guidance that enables consumers to make informed decisions to protect their homes, Android is the safer bet if you want to monitor your child's online activity.

I considered iPhones to be generally more secure gadgets. That may be the case when it comes to securing your private information and preventing the spread of viruses and malware, but children aren't typically most at risk from these online dangers.

The main worries when it comes to keeping children safe online are things like cyberbullying, online predators, and exposure to unsuitable content. A parental control app is the greatest method to keep an eye on and regulate what your child is doing online, but alas, all of the ones I've seen work considerably better on Android devices.

A sad and unsettling fact is that your child is likely to suffer cyberbullying if they have a smartphone. Through a screen, predators can easily approach children. One mistake can spread like wildfire. Parents must be able to keep an eye on their children's smartphones due to the numerous threats they confront today. Even digital giants Samsung and Apple recognise the value of controls and surveillance. To safeguard children, they included built-in settings on their devices. Which smartphone protects your child from the risks they face?

The arguments over whether and when kids should own cellphones have evolved into a very contemporary parenting conundrum. These ‘’Big Questions’’ regarding children and smartphones don't have any ‘’right or wrong’’ solutions. The nearly universal use of cellphones among kids at ever younger ages shows that most parents in today's society think that the advantages of giving their kids smartphones outweigh the concerns.

Parental control apps and software are simple to create because Android is an open-source operating system. These programs are designed to address both isolated and general vulnerabilities that could endanger children. They can also serve as alerts that notify you when your youngster is online flirting with danger. According to reports, LearnSafe is a website that gives school administrators concrete, fact-based data to pinpoint internet behaviours that could lead to substantial, frequently negative consequences. A data content filter cannot provide the protection and support for a culture of digital responsibility that LearnSafe does.

The built-in security mechanisms of Apple are actually working against it. Parental control apps don't fully function on these devices since Apple doesn't get along with outside developers. Due to Apple's operating system's excessive limitations, several parental control applications don't even provide an iOS option.

It's difficult to argue against the ease of a family that is always connected or the numerous beneficial chances for kids to interact with the digital world. That doesn't imply that parents aren't concerned about their choice to provide their child access to a smartphone.

Although there isn't much study on this subject right now, parents' concerns about the effects of prolonged screen time on their developing child's cognitive and social development are legitimate. However, there is a lot of data to suggest that children are more likely to encounter inappropriate and hazardous information on Internet-connected devices, as well as experience online bullying, harassment, and grooming.

This brings up the potentially more important Big Question: How can we keep kids safe online when it comes to kids and their internet-connected devices? Fortunately, there are several parental control solutions available to parents today that are made to address this issue. It's crucial to understand that choosing a smartphone or tablet wisely is the first step in ensuring internet safety.

Both Android and iOS mobile devices come with certain built-in parental control capabilities that provide parents access to tools like app restrictions, screen time limits, content filters, use reports, and location monitoring. Although experts may not fully concur on this issue, there is a growing trend that Android devices are especially safer for kids because they are more customisable and allow parents to set up a robust ecosystem of online safety that goes far beyond just using the device's default controls.

Parents must use a variety of tactics to build a strong ecosystem for online safety, according to Rachelle Best, CEO and Founder of the AI-powered monitoring software FYI Play it Safe. According to her, Android cellphones provide more flexibility, giving parents more options and making it simpler and more efficient to deploy an all-encompassing safety solution for their kids. It's vital to keep in mind that how an Android phone is set up and used ultimately determines if it is safer for your child.

Built-in parental controls don't have any sophisticated capabilities and just provide a basic framework. They cannot serve as a stand-alone solution, therefore. Parents frequently learn that their children find ways to get around restrictions on screen time and apps. Parents should add sophisticated monitoring tools like FYI Play it Safe to parental settings in order to create a safe online environment for their family. Additionally, it's crucial to cultivate a culture within the family of open communication on online hazards and being secure.

Numerous parents pick Android smartphones for their children for a number of compelling reasons, in addition to the greater degree of customisation:

Superior control over content

Less messaging service integration is possible on Android devices, and there are stricter restrictions on content access within individual apps. Because of this, it is simpler for parents to stop their kids from unintentionally interacting with incorrect or hazardous content.

Numerous options in the app store

When it comes to parental settings and device monitoring, Android offers a wider app market that gives parents more alternatives. In order to keep your child safer, this makes sure that you have access to the newest and most sophisticated safety and security apps.

Various price points

Android has a considerably greater selection of devices available at different price points. Finding a phone or tablet that matches your family's budget is simple.

Individual user accounts

On an Android phone or tablet, parents may create numerous user accounts, each with a separate set of restrictions and permissions, allowing them to simply tailor the controls for each child in the family.

With the help of AI and machine learning, the FYI Play it Safe app, which is currently accessible on Google Play, keeps track of children's online material across various devices in real-time and sends parents pre-emptive alerts when their kids are exposed to threats. It keeps track of all the online activity the youngster engages in, including social media, in-game conversations, and instant messaging. Parents don't need to provide their child's account information because new accounts and apps are already included by default.

Best claims that ensuring FYI Play it Safe's place on Google Play is a crucial turning point in the effort to keep kids safer online. The app's availability on the platform not only broadens our audience to millions of Android users, but it also gives parents confidence that FYI Play it Safe is a dependable tool for enhancing the online safety of their family. The shortened installation procedure makes the user experience simpler, making it easier for families to adopt our technology and work with us to make the internet a safer place for kids throughout the world.