Raising Is Google Family Link safe for kids? What parents should know
Is Google Family Link safe for kids? It's Google's parental controls app, rated 4+ on Apple's App Store and Everyone on Google Play. According to Google, parents can set screen time limits, approve new apps, see a child's location, and filter Chrome, Google Play, YouTube, and Search. It manages Google Accounts for children under 13, and children use it on certain Android and Chrome devices. The parent app also runs on iPhone.
Google Family Link at a glance
- –Official rating above age 7
App Store: 4+; Google Play: Everyone - –Contact with other players or strangers
No messaging listed by the App Store - –Purchases with real money
No in-app purchases (App Store) - –Paid random items
None found - –Violence or scary content in rating descriptors
None listed - –Government lawsuits, fines, or safety warnings
None found
Each flag is a yes-or-no fact from the sources on this page. The number is a count of flags, not a safety score. How we count.
| Type | Google's parental controls app for children's Google Accounts and Android devices |
|---|---|
| App Store (iOS) | 4+ (for ages 4 and up) — no content descriptors, no in-app purchases source |
| Google Play | Everyone — Users Interact, Shares Location, Digital Purchases source |
| Features | Screen time limits, app approvals, location, filters for Chrome, Play, YouTube, Search source |
| Devices | Children use it on certain Android and Chrome devices; the parent app runs on Android and iPhone source |
Checked October 2026. Ratings and settings change; check the official source before you decide. What do these ratings mean?
Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.
What is Google Family Link?
Short answer: Google's parental controls app.
A parent installs it to manage a child's Google Account and Android phone or Chromebook. Google says children under 13, or the applicable age in their country, can have a Google Account managed through Family Link.
Is Google Family Link safe for kids? What it does
Short answer: It's a tool for parents, rated 4+, with no content descriptors.
According to Google:
- Screen time: daily limits, downtime and school time, and time limits per app.
- Apps: approve new apps or block them.
- Location: see a child's device on a map and get alerts when they arrive or leave.
- Filters: for Chrome, Google Play, YouTube, and Search.
On an iPhone, Apple's Screen Time does this job: see iPhone parental controls.
The habit kids may copy: "just five more minutes"
When a time limit ends the game, the end feels like the app's decision, not the child's.
Try tonight: make the rule together
Before the next screen time, decide the limit together and let your child set the timer. Say: "This is our rule. You're the one keeping it." In our program, this is the lesson "My Fort": the rules I keep.
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FAQ
What does Google Family Link do?
According to Google, it lets parents set screen time limits, approve apps, see a child's location, and filter Chrome, Google Play, YouTube, and Search.
Does Google Family Link work on iPhone?
The parent app runs on iPhone. Google says children use Family Link on certain Android and Chrome devices.
Is Google Family Link free?
It's free to download, and Apple's App Store lists no in-app purchases.
What age is Google Family Link for?
It manages Google Accounts for children under 13, or the applicable age in their country; Google says older children can manage their own account.
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