[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_team_member name=”Michael Guy” position=”Digital wellbeing” image_url=”https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/02\/09095910\/Mike-Thumbnail.png” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_team_member][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2013\/08\/23095937\/2024-06-Blog_tips-Xbox-live_Hero.png” alt=”Girl playing Xbox” title_text=”2024-06-Blog_tips-Xbox-live_Hero” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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You probably don\u2019t need us to tell you that kids love gaming. With an estimated <\/span>three-quarters of US under-18s <\/span><\/a>playing video games weekly, chances are your child enjoys playing games on their console, PC, or mobile too. Playstation and Xbox lead the way for console gaming with Xbox having approximately <\/span>100 million users worldwide<\/span><\/a>; 10% of which are children.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Now, gaming has evolved a lot over the last 20 years. Most mainstream games today boast incredible, life-like visuals and offer fully immersive experiences that can keep children entertained for days, weeks, or even months. The online nature of modern gaming allows your child to play their favorite games with friends and make new ones around the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, parents need to be aware of the potential dangers of gaming online and use parental control tools like the <\/span>Xbox Family Settings app<\/span><\/a> to ensure their children have a fun and safe time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To help you, we\u2019ll go through our top tips to get the best out of the Xbox Family Settings app.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Family Settings app was launched by Xbox in 2020 to create a safer gaming experience for families. It helps parents manage and safeguard their child\u2019s Xbox activities by allowing them to <\/span>set daily limits for their child\u2019s playing time, see activity reports, filter access to mature content, limit online communication<\/b>, and more, from their mobile devices.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2013\/08\/23095832\/2024-06-Blog_tips-Xbox-live_InsideImage.png” alt=”Teen playing Xbox” title_text=”2024-06-Blog_tips-Xbox-live_InsideImage” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 1. Download the app and create an account<\/b><\/p>\n The app can be downloaded to your (the parent\u2019s) mobile device for free from the <\/span>Google Play Store<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>App Store<\/span><\/a>. You\u2019ll then have to create an account or sign in to an existing Microsoft account.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 2. Add your child<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Now you need to add your child to your Microsoft Family. You can create a child account or invite them to your Family if they already have an account.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Make sure you enter their birthdate correctly so it registers as a child account!<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 3. Create screen time rules<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n You can now set a gaming schedule for your child by customizing each day of the week with different time ranges. You can change these settings on the fly to allow more or less screen time, and even pause your child\u2019s gaming instantly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With activity reports, you\u2019ll get an overview of your child\u2019s gaming activity so you can see which games they are playing and how much time they\u2019re spending on them.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 4. Set restrictions on inappropriate games\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n By default, your child will only be able to access games and other content with a rating appropriate for their age. You can change this as you see fit in<\/span> Settings > Content restrictions.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You can also choose to <\/span>allow or block multiplayer gaming<\/b>. If you choose to block, there\u2019s an option to make an exception for Minecraft.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 5. Monitor your child\u2019s interactions<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n With online gaming, one of the biggest fears for parents is that their child might interact with strangers and become a victim of <\/span>cyberbullying<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>predation<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To safeguard your child, Family Settings allows you to:<\/span><\/p>\n 6. Manage your child\u2019s spending\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n In recent years, there have been a slew of stories of kids spending massive amounts of their parents\u2019 money on mobile games without them knowing; one 13-year-old girl in China <\/span>racked up a $64,000 bill<\/span><\/a> in 4 months!<\/span><\/p>\n On Xbox, your child can buy games, DLC, and other <\/span>in-game items<\/span><\/a> in the Microsoft Store with just the funds in their account. The Family Settings app allows you to see your child\u2019s balance and spending history, and add more money to their account.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another useful feature is \u201cAsk to Buy\u201d. By activating this, you\u2019ll get a notification when your child wants to buy something but doesn’t have enough money in their account.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gaming allows your child to exercise their problem-solving, creativity, and even social skills. But while gaming can be rewarding, there are dangers that parents need to be aware of and take action when appropriate. The Xbox Family Settings app is a good solution and has features that can help safeguard your child from online threats and support their digital wellbeing.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You probably don\u2019t need us to tell you that kids love gaming. With an estimated three-quarters of US under-18s playing video games weekly, chances are your child enjoys playing games on their console, PC, or mobile too. Playstation and Xbox lead the way for console gaming with Xbox having approximately 100 million users worldwide; […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":66986,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Many parents have concerns about their children playing video games, and rightfully so. Often, moms and dads worry that their kids are spending too much time gaming, or they may fear that violent video game titles<\/a> could have a negative effect on their kid\u2019s psyche. These are valid concerns, but as you may suspect, it\u2019s the dangers you aren't aware of that can be the most threatening. Did you know that Xbox Live is much more than just a gaming console? In fact, it\u2019s a gaming community that connects more than 48 million members looking for social entertainment. Sounds like fun, right? Your kid thinks so too, but he needs your help to play it safe on this platform. Consider these three tips:\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\n### Approve friend requests\r\n\r\nGamers can participate in multiplayer games and even chat with each other on the Xbox Live platform. If you decide to let your child participate in this social aspect of gaming, then be sure that you have the finger on the pulse of who your child is interacting with. Remember, there are plenty of adult gamers out there, and your child may not be able to tell the difference between a peer and a grown-up. The best way to monitor player-to-player communication is to set up parental controls that require your password approval for each friend request. You can do this from the \u201cFamily\u201d center on the console settings.\r\n\r\n\r\n### Restrict inappropriate content\r\n\r\nDon\u2019t want your child playing mature video games? What parent does? Luckily, you can restrict certain games and videos based on their ratings. Just go to \u201cSettings\u201d and then choose \u201cFamily\u201d from the menu to access this feature.\r\n\r\n\r\n### Set time limits\r\n\r\nIf you have a young gamer at home, then you know how easy it is for kids to get sucked into a video game for hours at a time if you let them. While the game itself may not be bad for your child, spending hours in front of a monitor can have negative physical and psychological effects. Xbox\u2019s Family Timer allows you to set daily and weekly time limits for your child. Once the time is up, the console will shut down until the timer is automatically reset on the next day or week. Watch this video tutorial<\/a> to learn how to activate the Family Timer on your console.\r\n\r\nGaming can be a fun and safe activity for your child as long as you set the proper boundaries. Do you have other questions about the safety of online gaming? Share them in the comments section.","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is Xbox Family Settings?<\/b><\/h2>\n
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How to use Family Settings to keep your child safe on Xbox<\/b><\/h2>\n
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