I Gave My Kids the Internet For Christmas
This year my 7 year old twins learned to read on their own and were able to type up some half decent show and tell on Google Slides. I’ve never been more terrified. While I encourage independent learning, I know that sooner or later a search for a cute cat or videos of black rockets may return some pretty horrific results.
Having spent the last ten years at Google, I knew there would be a solution. So after a bit of research, this is what I’ve found.
The solution: Google FamilyLink (Link)
Yes — I know I’m an ex-Googler — but that’s not why I’m suggesting this solution. I actually wasn’t aware of it until I started researching (note: it’s only a couple of years old). While still a relatively new product with lots of features still to (hopefully) come — it provides some great basics at the level I’m looking for.
** UPDATE **: The first version of FamilyLink required your child to have their own Android Device to use so they could download the app and log in. You can now set this up so that your Child can log into their email on another computer without downloading the app. This is how I’ve set our kids up (we don’t have the luxury to give our kids each a Chromebook) and how I’ve written the instructions below **
Read Me!: It’s important to understand the basics of how Google FamilyLink work. The core feature is that everyone in the family has a Google Account. A Google Account allows you to access all Google products (Gmail, YouTube, Chrome etc) All of the Safety features applied are to each of the Google Accounts individually. That means for them to work, your child will need to log onto Google and ideally use Google Chrome.
Also Important!: While the below tips should provide some solid basic features to make things safer for your kids, they are not foolproof. It’s still recommended that kids should use computers when an adult is around and that parents and carers are continually monitoring computer usage.
EDIT: I’ll keep posting updates as I work out more features.
There’s lots of great info on the Google Families site — but to get started straight away — here are the basics.
PART 1: GETTING STARTED
Prep Work
- Know your devices!
It’s important you know what devices your kids will be using to access the internet. As this is a Google platform — it will work best with all features when using an Android Device or Chromebook. At our house, we have a mixture of iPads, Apple Macs, Android and iPhones, so the instructions below are for those using different devices. If there are big differences — I’ve noted them.
**** REMEMBER **** For the Family Safe Settings to apply to your child — they will need to log in to their account before accessing the internet. Google recommends an Android Device — but the settings will also work on iOS eg iPads and iPhones (read more here). This is probably the most complicated part to understand and I still haven’t got some of the advanced features to work. Please make sure you test the settings before showing your child how to log in **
2. Make Sure You Have Google Account (Link Here)
This will be the biggest hurdle if you’ve been using Hotmail or a work account as your main email. Unfortunately for this system to work you all need to have a Google account. Don’t worry — you can still use your other email to communicate with the family — however, the Google Account will let you manage the Google Family settings.
3. Add other Adults to your Family Account
If you set up the account, you’ll be the family manager. However, you can add other adults to help manage along with the kids (they are marked with the green and yellow diamonds). Again a reminder that everyone in the family will need a Google Account. There are loads of features in the Google Family Account (see here) but for now just focus on getting everyone set up.
Setting up the Kids
3. Set the kids up with a Google Account
While it feels weird setting up a Gmail for your child, think of it as the seatbelt for the internet — as you can control all future settings via this account.
It’s important that you put the right birthday for your child — as Google will automatically guide you to the Family Link portal if under 13 years of age.
Here’s the link and some more information to read.
Try and give them an email and password that is easy to remember so they can log in themselves. This set up will also allow parents to approve log ins and also change passwords if needed.
Important: Don’t log in with your child to Gmail yet!!!!!!!
4. Manage your Child’s Account Settings
When you click on one of the Child accounts on the family homepage — you get the option to control settings: This is the feature that I found to address all my concerns about controlling what my kids see on the internet!
To get the basics set up I recommend: Filters on Google Search and Websites on Chrome
5. Turn on Safe Search
Google Search is the gateway to so much information. It’s this generation’s Dolly Doctor, Encylopedia Britannica and ABC Kids in one place. It will also be the first and easiest place to start experimenting with rude words and adult concepts. Kids will always work out a way to find what they are looking for, and will not always be on a home computer. By putting on SafeSearch, you’re providing a basic safety net for both accidental and more on purpose searches.
It’s important to note that while turning on SafeSearch will filter out some of the most extreme and obvious inappropriate search results, it won’t be perfect.
6. Websites on Chrome
The other key setting to update is Websites on Chrome. Remember — Chrome is Google’s Website Browser (the thing that allows you to get onto the internet). It’s important to remember that for these settings to work, you are using Google Chrome to access the internet.
The most basic setting is to ‘Try to block mature sites’. Like Google Safe Search this will block the most obvious inappropriate sites. For those wanting to manage certain sites — they will need to have their child on an Android Device or Chromebook (read more here)
Log on and Test
7. Log Yourself out of Google and Log in as your Child
Before handing the log ins over — it's important to test that your child’s account is working and you can see how safe search works.
First up open Chrome and log yourself out of your Google Account (see below).
Next open up a new tab and sign in as your Child — using their gmail and password. You’ll see a parent approval box come up — this is what will happen whenever your Children log in.
Finally, log into Gmail and check that it’s working (we’ll set that up in a sec)
8. Test Safe Search
Think of some pretty crude words (I won’t type them here.. but another word for a cat, a body part that rhymes with rock, porn) — you’ll see that the results are much safer than regular search mode.
Have a go at Image Search too — you’ll still see a few questionable pictures, but much less confronting than regular search.
* Remember — some of these websites still may have inappropriate content so important that you always monitor your kid's search activity.
Time to set up and Share with the Kids
9. Show them their new Internet
Let your kids know they are old enough to have their own log ins to the internet. Let them know you’ve set them up with their own account so they are able to look at things safely without anything scary coming up. Make sure they know it’s important they let you know if they see something they don’t like and always share what they are looking at.
It’s also important to let them be aware that you have access to their account so they know you can see what they’ve been looking at, and make sure they understand that you are able to access at any time.
10. Set up their Gmail and let them go!
This has been the best outcome of this exercise. I showed them Gmail and added key family to their contacts (Link Here).
Tip: You can add people as Mum, Dad, Grandma etc for more fun.
You can now share notes and photos with them and let them write some emails to family and friends. And yes they can add emojis!
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That’s the best I’ve been able to come up with for the basics. Please leave questions, suggestions and feedback below. I’ll continue to dig around and test.
