Google today revealed its newest Android app, called Family Link.
Family Link lets you manage your child’s device usage. That includes which apps they can use, monitoring their screen time, and setting a bedtime that will remotely lock your kid’s device at a set time.
The Family Link app works on devices that run Android 7.0 or higher. Once you’ve got it installed on your device, you can set up a Google Account for your child in the app, then sign them into their new device using that account.
You can now request an invitation to the Family Link early access program. Google says that it’s offering the app in early access so that it can gather feedback from parents before rolling it out more broadly.
Many parents like to keep tabs on their kid’s screen time and the apps that they’re using, but it can be difficult to monitor what they’re doing all of the time. The Family Link app should really help parents keep an eye on what their kids are doing with their devices. The downside is that it currently only supports Android 7.0, which makes up a small percentage of the Android devices in use, meaning that some parents may not be able to use Family Link unless they buy themselves or their kids a brand new device.