In Short
- Google has launched the School Time feature on Android devices to limit distractions during school hours
- Parents can control app accessibility and set screen time schedules through the Family Link app
- Additional settings for teens include linked YouTube accounts and default safety features for users under 18
Parents are increasingly concerned about how their children use technology, especially finding the right balance between online and offline activities. Understanding these concerns, Google has introduced a new setting called School Time for Android phones, aiming to help children focus on their studies during school hours rather than getting distracted by social media reels.
Helping Students Focus During School Hours
Google has always engaged with parents to design products that cater to family needs. One common concern is ensuring children are not distracted during school but still reachable in case of emergencies. In response, Google introduced School Time on Fitbit Ace LTE smartwatches earlier this year. Now, they are expanding this feature to select Android phones, tablets, and Samsung Galaxy Watches over the next year to create a more productive learning environment.
The School Time feature allows parents to set their child’s device to a dedicated home screen with limited functionality during school hours. This helps reduce distractions in class. Through the Family Link parental controls app, parents can schedule and choose which apps are accessible during School Time. They can also allow calls or texts from specific contacts. School Time can be activated outside school hours too, providing focus or screen break periods.
Additional Settings for Teens
As children grow into teens, their use of technology evolves, and so do their supervision needs. Google recognizes this and continues to offer tailored settings for different ages and developmental stages. New features are coming to YouTube, allowing parents to link their accounts with their teens’ accounts, giving them visibility into their teens’ activity.
Family Link supervision is available for all ages, giving parents the flexibility to determine which apps, products, and experiences their teens can access. It also helps parents monitor their teens’ activity, set screen time limits, and share location. For all users under 18, Google has default safety settings, such as SafeSearch, content restrictions, and turning off autoplay on YouTube. Recently, they introduced safeguards to limit recommendations of potentially problematic content, like videos related to body image.
Google is committed to continuously investing in research and development to meet the evolving needs of parents and children. By collaborating with experts in child development, education, and technology, Google aims to shape a future where technology enhances learning and exploration.
With these new tools, Google is helping parents create a balanced and focused digital experience for their children, ensuring that technology serves as an aid to education rather than a distraction.
