Content Consumption
Content restrictions and app approvals
When a child accesses the Google Play Store, they can browse games, movies, shows, books, and
more. Additionally, Family Link enables parents to:
• Restrict the types of content visible based on ratings
• Require approval to download content (free or paid)
• Review an app’s information when a download is requested to find out whether it contains ads,
in-app purchases, or permissions you might care about
Talk with your child about the different content ratings that exist (such as “E for Everyone” vs.
“Teen”) to explain why these restrictions exist for different age levels, and help them understand
what kind of content you think is appropriate for them.
App activity reports
It’s much easier to have a talk with your children about technology if you know what they love to do
with their devices. Is your child a chatter? A gamer? An avid reader? Talk to your child about which
apps and games they enjoy the most, and see where they spend the most time with Family Link’s
app activity reports. These reports provide a breakdown of how much time your child spends on
each app on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
Hide apps
You might decide the right amount of screen time for your child depends on what they’re watching,
playing, or learning. If activity reports show your child is using a specific app too much (like their
favorite new game), you can temporarily hide it from their device. Discuss with your child whether or
not they feel the amount of time they’re using it is healthy, and explain to them why you’re asking
them to take a break. None of their app history (such as game progress or high scores) will be
deleted – the app will simply be hidden until you decide to make it available to your child again.