Five-minute setups that change everything.

Create a supervised child Google account, install Family Link, and lock down screen time, app installs and content — step by step.

1. 1Create or link the child’s own Google account
2. 2Install Family Link on the parent phone
3. 3Follow the supervision prompts on the child’s device
4. 4Choose daily limits, downtime and app limits
5. 5Review Google Play approvals and content ratings
6. 6Review search, browser and YouTube controls
7. 7Check ordinary calls to a trusted adult during downtime

Create a Child Apple Account inside Family Sharing, then use Screen Time and Communication Safety to lock down content, time and contacts.

1. 1Create a Child Apple Account through Family Sharing
2. 2Sign the child in on their iPhone with the new account
3. 3Turn on Screen Time and set a Screen Time Passcode only you know
4. 4Set Downtime, App Limits and Always-Allowed apps
5. 5Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions (App Store, web, Siri, explicit content)
6. 6Turn on Ask to Buy; verify Communication Safety is on (it's enabled by default on current software)
7. 7Enable Find My and Stolen Device Protection

Choose the right account type, review content controls and set limits for viewing and the Shorts feed.

1. 1Check the account type
2. 2Review the content setting
3. 3Turn off Autoplay where appropriate
4. 4Review history and recommendations together
5. 5Set a Shorts feed limit
6. 6Check Restricted Mode where available
7. 7Repeat the checks on each viewing device

Review privacy, discovery, location, sign-in security and contacts together. Menus and options vary by app version and account age.

1. 1Set the account to Private (and confirm the Teen Account default is actually applied)
2. 2Turn off 'suggest my account to others' and contact syncing
3. 3Strip location: no location tags, no Snap Map, no place in bio
4. 4Turn on two-factor authentication with an app, not SMS
5. 5Clean the follower/friend list — remove anyone they cannot name in real life