How to Try Microsoft’s New Family Safety App
Microsoft announced its new family safety app back in March, and you can now subscribe to a limited preview of the app on iOS or Android. The idea behind the app is to give parents an idea of how their kids are spending time on their devices, so they can make the necessary adjustments. The app also allows family members to easily share their location and stay connected.
If you want to experience it, you can download the app right now from Google Play or App Store. You will also need to sign up for the limited preview on Microsoft’s website and wait for approval. If you do this in the official preview, you can do a ton of things:
Monitor your child’s smartphone activity
One of the great things about Family Safety is that it tracks activity across multiple devices. This means that you can not only see how your child is using their smartphone or tablet, but also see what they have been doing on their computer (or Xbox).
As a parent, you will be able to see your child’s total usage time, as well as their most popular websites and what they are looking for on the Internet. You can check their activity in the app or sign up for a weekly email newsletter about what your child is up to, such as Minecraft. It’s always Minecraft.
Set screen time limits for your device-obsessed child
With the screen restriction feature in the Microsoft Family Safety app, you can set restrictions on certain types of activities. For example, you can limit the amount of time your child can spend on a gaming site they like, but offer unlimited access to the portal they use for school activities. (They’ll love it.)
If your child is running out of your allotted time, he or she may ask you for extra time. Do you agree to grant this request, and how well they mowed the lawn that day.
Control your child’s access to apps and websites
The app also allows you to block apps, games, and websites that your child will have access to (the latter if they are using the Microsoft Edge browser). You will also receive a notification if your child tries to download an app that is more mature than the one you have authorized them to access. Sorry seven year old Doom Eternal fans.
Find out where your family is
Similar to other sharing apps , Family Safety also lets you know where your family members are at any given time, or at least their devices.
You can also save frequently visited places, such as work and school, to the map so you can quickly see where someone is.