PCMag UK parental-control

39 Brands, 1 Server: The Terrifying Discovery Exposed in Popular Children's Trackers

Justyn Newman — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 18:15:07 +0000

At Black Hat, researchers revealed that dozens of kid trackers rely on the same insecure server infrastructure in China, posing security risks for children and parents alike.

LAS VEGAS—You might not be the only one keeping tabs on your child’s location. GPS-based trackers seem like quick and easy tools for ensuring your little one is safe when they’re away from home, but they may actually disclose your child’s location and activities to malicious third parties.

At the …

The 10 Things Every Kid on the Internet Should Know

Kim Key — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:51:27 +0000

Parenting in the digital age ain't easy. I’ve spent years reviewing security and privacy tools, and these are the habits every child should learn to stay safe without taking the fun out of being online.

You may remember life before the internet, but your kids don't. To them, internet access is as ubiquitous as fresh air—and nearly as important. Your children can find information and entertainment online from anywhere in the world. That's great, but it can also pose …

The Best Free Parental Control Apps for 2026

Kim Key — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 20:42:31 +0000

Apple, Google, and Microsoft all offer free parental control apps or settings to help you keep your kids safer online. We walk you through the benefits and drawbacks of each.

The Best Parental Control Software for 2026

Kim Key — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 20:21:16 +0000

The top parental control tools help families manage screen time, filter inappropriate content, and encourage safer online habits—without sacrificing privacy or trust.

How to Choose the Best Parental Control Software

Children who feel they have some agency in using parental control apps are less likely to attempt to disable the software or circumvent restrictions. If you aren't looking forward to difficult talks with your kids, take a moment before the chat to learn …

Stay Kind Online: A Parent's Guide to Cyberbullying in the Social Media Era

Kim Key — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 12:44:55 +0000

From TikTok to Discord, here's how you can better understand your kids' digital lives and guide them with confidence.

Cybersecurity education should start early and happen both at home and in schools, but it needs to go beyond the usual advice about strong passwords, antivirus software, or password manager. Those basics still matter, but they don't fully prepare young …

Most Kids Don't Learn Cybersecurity in School. Here Are 5 Ways You Can Teach It

Kim Key — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:23:07 +0000

Kids may be digital natives, but that doesn't mean they understand online risks. Here are five practical tips to start building cybersecurity skills at home.

Cybersecurity education simply isn't taught widely in the US, and that's a major problem. According to Keeper's most recent Cybersecurity in Schools report, 82% of US K–12 schools experienced at least one cyber incident between July 2023 and December 2024. Contrast that with …

Want to Spend More Time With the Kids? Kick Them Off the Wi-Fi and Take Control of Your Internet

Whitson Gordon — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 19:30:40 +0000

If your kids need a screen-time breather, here are a few ways to disconnect their devices from Wi-Fi through your router settings.

Were you one of those kids who secretly stayed up late, watching TV or reading comic books under your covers after bedtime? Kids today are no different—except they have the internet. But screen time for kids has been out of control in recent …

It's Not Just You: Parents Everywhere Struggle to Set Screen-Time Boundaries

Rob Pegoraro — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:12:58 +0000

A new Pew Research Center survey finds 42% of parents feel they could do better.

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Parents struggling to police their kids’ screen-seeking habits—and who aren’t proud of their own—may find comfort in a …

Following Teen Suicide Lawsuit, OpenAI Previews New Safety Measures

Jibin Joseph — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 16:59:25 +0000

Next month, OpenAI will bring parental control tools to ChatGPT. Once linked to a teen's account, parents will receive notifications if the chatbot detects their child is in distress.

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OpenAI announced last month that it is working on improving ChatGPT's ability to deal with signs of mental distress and adding Add PCMag as a preferred source on Google.

Bluesky has walked off the stage in the birthplace of the blues rather than comply with a new Mississippi law that the social network says would have required it to verify …

Verizon Tries to Reinvent the Home Phone Number With 'Family Line'

Rob Pegoraro — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 20:51:17 +0000

One potential hangup: You can’t port an existing landline number over to this new service.

Verizon's updated online safety and digital wellness tools for families include a feature that may only resonate with parents over a certain age: a reboot of the landline concept.

The new Verizon Family Plus, announced …

Instagram Blocks Teen Accounts From Going Live, Viewing Sensitive Images

Jibin Joseph — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 15:09:41 +0000

Meta is also rolling out Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger today.

Meta is adding more content restrictions to its Teen Safety accounts.

By default, users under the age of 16 will now be blocked from going live and opening images containing suspected nudity. To lift these restrictions, teens will need to get parental approval. Updates will roll out in the next …

Google to Use Machine Learning to Determine How Old You Are

Jibin Joseph — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 21:04:38 +0000

A new machine learning model will analyze a user’s search activity, YouTube history, and account age to spot kids who are under 18.

Google will soon begin testing a machine learning-based model that can estimate a user's age—or at least whether they're under 18, "so that we can apply protections to help provide more age-appropriate experiences," Google says.

Tests will start in the US this year before expanding to other …

Google Gives Parents More Ways to Monitor Their Kids' Online Activity

Rob Pegoraro — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:52:40 +0000

Among the updates to Google's Family Link parental-control system are new School Time options that let parents control what apps their kids can use and when during school hours.

The Google service that Android users under 13 may most resent is getting a slight rewrite.

Google today announced a set of updates to its Family Link parental-control system that gives parents a few more ways to monitor what their 13-and-under …

Mobicip

Kim Key — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 20:40:22 +0000

Affordable parental control apps that block websites and enforce screen time schedules

Editors' Note: PCMag is no longer rating third-party parental control apps. In recent years, our testing has found that these apps can be unreliable at protecting your children online, and they can even be counterproductive if they alienate your kids by making them feel spied on. Instead, we encourage you …

Here Are 2024's Most Used (and Worst) Passwords: Is Yours on the List?

Michael Kan — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:43:00 +0000
NordPass' annual list of the 200 most commonly used passwords finds that many people are leaving their accounts vulnerable to hacking, with '123456' once again taking the top spot.

PC Gaming On the TV? How to Turn Your Gamepad Into a Computer Mouse

Whitson Gordon — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:03:33 +0000
If you plan to play PC games on your big 4K TV, turning your game controller into a computer mouse can help make the process easier.
The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X may be the new hotness for living room gaming, but if you want the benefits of PC gaming with the comfort of the couch, set daily limits using a feature called Time Limit Controls, Epic Games announced today.
Parents can choose specific time windows during which their child is …

These Conversations Can Help Uncover Your Teen's Secret Online Life

Kim Key — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 12:09:46 +0000
Teens don't want to be spied on, but they need to be protected from internet dangers. We tell you how to establish trust with your kids while learning the challenges they face online.
Separating offline and online friends isn't possible for today's kids. Teens are connected to everything and everyone at all times. They use the internet all day at school; at home, the online world is where they consume entertainment, establish relationships, and begin creating their …

4 Parental Controls Tips From an Actual Parent

Meg St-Esprit — Thu, 02 May 2024 14:28:35 +0000
Parental control software can be confusing and overwhelming. The best things you can do to keep your kids safe online are simple and free.
While most parents want their kids to be safe on the internet, the truth is many are confused and unsure where to start. As a writer who covers parenting, I've heard it all. “It’s very overwhelming,” one North Carolina mom told me. “I …

China Proposes 40-Minute Internet Time Limit for Children

Matthew Humphries — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:13:20 +0000
Access to the internet using a mobile device would also be prohibited between 10pm and 6am.
The Chinese government is proposing strict new limits on internet access using mobile devices for anyone under the age of 18.
As Bloomberg reports, a new set of regulations (translated) compiled by the Cyberspace Administration of China suggests a time limit of …

Apple Confirms Some Screen Time Limits for Kids Aren't Working

Emily Price — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 18:55:31 +0000
A bug in Apple's Family Sharing means some parental settings are not saving correctly.
If you’ve been thinking your kids seem to be getting a lot more screen time than you’ve allotted them, you might not be wrong.
Apple confirmed to The Wall Street Journal this …

3 Ways to Make Your Kids Smarter About Online Security

Kim Key — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 18:56:27 +0000
Kids are heading back to school, and parents need to help them create good computer habits with a firm focus on online safety. We interviewed an expert to find out how.
Chances are, while performing your morning scroll through today's list of frightening headlines, you read about the discovery or fallout from a major cybersecurity incident. Hacks, ransomware deployment, phishing, social engineering scams …

10 Things Every Parent With a Connected Kid Needs to Know

Kim Key — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 15:04:50 +0000
Parenting in the internet age ain't easy. Follow this simple advice to prepare your children for the dangers they face online.
You may remember life before the internet, but your kids don't. To them, internet access is as ubiquitous as fresh air—and nearly as important. Your children can find information and entertainment from anywhere in the world online. This unrestricted access can be both a convenience and a concern for parents.
If …

Stay Kind Online: How to Talk to Your Kids About Cyberbullying

Kim Key — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 16:01:51 +0000
Sometimes children unknowingly participate in cyberbullying, as parents struggle to keep up with online harassment trends. Here's how to teach your kid to be an upstanding internet citizen.
Cybersecurity education should happen at home and in schools. When I say "cybersecurity education," I mean going beyond offering tips about using antivirus software or installing a password manager to keep your logins safe. Of course, basic COPPA) and deceiving parents regarding data-deletion practices.
The Department of Justice filed the complaint on behalf of the FTC claiming Amazon is failing parents …

Google Overhauls Family Link App, Adds Location Tracking

Stephanie Mlot — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 13:55:49 +0000
The company also introduces new Google TV features for youngsters.
Google has redesigned its Family Link parental control platform with a simpler interface that sorts everything into three main tabs—Highlights, Controls, Location. And keep an eye on the notifications bell at the top, where you can track children's requests for app downloads, purchases, and access to blocked websites.
Highlights
The Highlights tab …

What's a Good Age to Stop Monitoring Kids' Online Activity? Parents Weigh In

Eric Griffith — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 11:00:00 +0000
Parental control software is a big help in keeping kids safe online, according to parents who took the latest PCMag Tech Parenting survey. But how long should those devices be monitored?
When it comes to keeping kids safe online, parents have a multitude of worries, though most are taking advantage of parental control software, which they find to be largely effective, according to the latest PCMag Tech Parenting …

What's Your Kid Doing on Instagram? Request Access to Supervise Them

Stephanie Mlot — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 14:24:27 +0000
Previously, only kids could send invites to their parents. Meta also expands parental controls to activity on its Quest VR headsets.
Six months after Instagram Head Adam Mosseri took some heat from Congress over reports that the app doesn't adequately protect teen users, Meta has rolled out new parental-supervision tools for Instagram and Quest VR headsets.
The Instagram updates expand on …

How to Add Family Members to a Windows PC and Manage What Your Kids Do

Lance Whitney — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +0000
In Windows 10 and Windows 11, you can add accounts for other family members and keep an eye on what your kids are doing on the shared PC.
Do you share a Windows 10 or 11 computer or tablet with the adults and children in your family? If so, you can easily add new family accounts to the device so everyone can use it individually with their own unique profile and settings. Even …

Qustodio

Kim Key — Tue, 31 May 2022 20:34:16 +0000
A slick but pricey parental control solution
Editors' Note: PCMag is no longer rating or recommending third-party parental control apps. In recent years, our testing has found that these apps can be unreliable at protecting your children online, and they can even be counterproductive if they alienate your kids by making them feel spied on. Instead, we …

Norton Family

Kim Key — Tue, 31 May 2022 20:19:34 +0000
An affordable app for establishing and enforcing online rules for your kids
Editors' Note: PCMag is no longer rating or recommending third-party parental control apps. In recent years, our testing has found that these apps can be unreliable at protecting your children online, and they can even be counterproductive if they alienate your kids by making them feel spied on. Instead, we …

How to Teach Your Kids to Be Safe Online

Kim Key — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 13:50:16 +0000
Children are major targets for cybercriminal activity. Adults must teach kids how to avoid social engineering scams online.
When I was a teenager, my online world was limited to trawling Star Trek message boards and anime chat rooms, looking for people my age to talk about my very specific interests. My parents allowed me to roam freely on the internet, but I didn’t wander very far. I primarily …

The Best Parental Control Apps for Your Phone

Ben Moore, Kim Key — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 00:14:07 +0000
If you want to keep your kids safe online, you need a parental control solution that monitors all their devices. These apps are the top cross-platform performers in our testing.
Where's Kaspersky?
Kaspersky Safe Kids was in this roundup for quite some time. We have, however, opted to remove the company's parental control software from this list.
Although Kaspersky has long faced controversy for its connections to Russia, we have continued to endorse many of …

Kaspersky Safe Kids

Neil J. Rubenking, Ben Moore — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 17:51:28 +0000
Monitor an unlimited number of desktop and mobile devices
Editors’ Note, July 3, 2024: PCMag rates and evaluates products based on their merits and effectiveness, not on political considerations. However, the US government has banned all sales of Kaspersky products in the US. Those using the products can continue, but after September 29, 2024, they won’t have access to …

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

Sascha Segan — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 18:13:14 +0000
A bigger screen makes a difference
Editors' Note: This is the most recent version of the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite. Read our original review from October 26, 2021 below.
Bigger is better with Amazon's 2021 Kindle Paperwhite ($149.99), which uses a new E Ink panel to show more words per page than its predecessor. …

Microsoft Family Safety

Kim Key — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 20:05:43 +0000
Beautiful design outweighed by functionality flaws
Most modern parental control software focuses on mobile devices, but desktop monitoring is important too. Microsoft Family Safety is ideal for parents looking for help with web filtering, screen time restrictions, and app monitoring on Windows computers. Microsoft Family Safety is available for mobile …