{"id":49763,"date":"2024-01-16T08:00:21","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T08:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/?p=49763"},"modified":"2024-02-26T16:18:06","modified_gmt":"2024-02-26T16:18:06","slug":"guide-parental-controls-teens-tweens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/en\/blog\/guide-parental-controls-teens-tweens\/","title":{"rendered":"A guide to using parental controls for teens and tweens"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_enable_color=”on” min_height=”65px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” 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_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-80px||-80px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” 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 _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”3233.8px” custom_margin=”48px|auto||auto|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”90px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Between schoolwork and socializing, <\/span>screens become an increasingly unavoidable part of children\u2019s lives<\/b> as they get older. At the same time, teens and tweens want more privacy and autonomy. It can become a true juggling act to keep them safe online while nurturing their path to independence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many families therefore call on <\/span>parental controls<\/span><\/a> to support them in this journey. But with so many tools – and so much information – out there, where do you start? <\/span>Combining recommendations from experts and our own research, this guide will help you get set up quickly<\/b> and start promoting positive device use for your teens. Got younger kids? Check out our <\/span>guide for under 8s<\/span><\/a> too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Have open discussions about the pros and cons of technology<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Before installing parental controls on your kids\u2019 devices, it\u2019s a good idea to have an open conversation with them first. Teens in particular will be much more likely to stick to the boundaries you set, and much less resentful of them, if they feel involved along the way. <\/span>Qustodio\u2019s <\/b>digital agreement<\/b><\/a>, especially created for teens and tweens, is here to help you involve your kids in those decisions<\/b>. With talking points to guide reflection on your family\u2019s technology use, it leads you through how to set healthy boundaries together that everyone\u2019s happy with.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Manage social media use<\/b><\/h2>\n

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As kids reach their teens, social media plays an increasingly large part in their lives – whether it\u2019s to chat to friends or stay up to date with the latest trends. Most social media platforms state that their users must be over the age of 13, though it\u2019s up to you to decide if you feel your teen is <\/span>ready to start using social media<\/span><\/a>. If they are, then <\/span>it\u2019s important to take measures to make sure they stay safe and <\/b>develop a healthy relationship<\/b><\/a> with it. Qustodio offers a number of ways to do this.<\/span><\/p>\n

All the social apps that your child uses will appear in a list in the games & apps section of their profile. From there, you can choose whether you want to block them or set a time limit. <\/span>Reducing social media use to <\/b>less than 30 minutes<\/b><\/a> a day is linked to improved mental health<\/b> – for this reason we recommend setting this as an absolute maximum, and ideally less. If you notice particular platforms having negative effects on your teens, then we recommend you block them completely.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Qustodio quick setup: Social media apps<\/span><\/h5>\n

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  1. From the <\/span>Rules <\/b>page, go to <\/span>Games & apps <\/b>and switch on the toggle<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Use the dropdown<\/b> next to each app to block apps or set time limits. For tweens, we recommend blocking all social media apps. For teens, we recommend setting daily time limits totalling up to 30 minutes a day.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    Protect screen-free moments<\/b><\/h2>\n

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    Experts recommend a <\/span>maximum of 2 hours of screen time each day<\/b><\/a> for tweens – with a little more flexibility for teens. This means that the type of screen time your kids have, and when they have it, becomes more important as they grow.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Qustodio comes with preset routines that enable you to schedule device blocks throughout the day. We recommend adding Bedtime to your child\u2019s schedule – this will block your kids\u2019 devices between 9 pm and 7 am Sunday-Thursday, helping them to get <\/span>quality sleep without distractions<\/span><\/a>. Customize your routines as much as you want to suit your family\u2019s schedule and <\/span>protect other moments that should be screen-free<\/b> too, such as dinner time.<\/span><\/p>\n

    If you have older teens and want to encourage them to manage their own time without setting hard limits yourself, you can activate alerts instead. This means that you\u2019ll receive an email letting you know when they\u2019ve used a certain amount of screen time. You can then decide if your teen is using it positively or in need of a break.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Qustodio quick setup: Routines and Daily time limit alerts<\/span><\/h5>\n

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    1. From the <\/span>Rules<\/b> page, select <\/span>Routines<\/b><\/li>\n
    2. Click Add routine<\/strong> and select Bedtime<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Check you\u2019re happy with the time and days set, and click Save routine<\/b>. Note that teens and tweens should get between <\/span>8-12 hours of sleep every night<\/span><\/a>, with devices blocked at least one hour before bed – so you may need to block extra time in the evening.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      If you prefer to set alerts for daily time limits instead, then follow the instructions below:<\/span><\/p>\n

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      1. From the <\/span>Rules<\/b> page, select <\/span>Daily time limits\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n
      2. Use the dial to set a screen time limit of about 2 hours each day<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Underneath settings, switch off<\/span> Lock navigation<\/b> and <\/span>Lock device<\/b>. Switch on <\/span>Alert me<\/b>. You\u2019ll now receive an alert when your child reaches their 2-hour limit.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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        Focus on awareness and habit-forming<\/b><\/h2>\n

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        A great way to help your teens develop self-awareness when it comes to the digital world is to <\/span>open up conversations about their technology use at the right time<\/b>. Qustodio gives you direct insight into their online habits so you can do this with ease.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Once you\u2019ve set up protection on your kids\u2019 devices, head to your dashboard to see a summary of their daily, weekly, and monthly activity, or go to your child\u2019s timeline to see everything in chronological order. You can also <\/span>receive a quick overview straight to your email inbox<\/b>. When you install Qustodio, this will be on by default – so you\u2019ll receive both a daily and a weekly activity summary. You can edit your preferences for how often you receive these in your account page. We recommend using these reports as a springboard for discussion with your teen.<\/span><\/p>\n

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        Qustodio quick setup: Email summaries<\/span><\/h5>\n

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        1. Log in to Qustodio and go to your <\/span>Account <\/b>page<\/span><\/li>\n
        2. Scroll to <\/span>Notifications<\/b> <\/span><\/li>\n
        3. Ensure that both Daily email reports<\/b> and <\/span>Weekly email summary<\/b> are switched on<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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          Keep your teens focused on positive, productive content<\/b><\/h2>\n

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          Whether your kids are researching an essay or trying to solve a tricky math problem, they\u2019re most likely turning to the internet for help. However, with so much information available, it\u2019s easy to get side-tracked and go down a rabbit-hole of unrelated content. Use Qustodio to <\/span>help your kids stay focused<\/b> when they are using their devices.<\/span><\/p>\n

          When you set up protection, Qustodio\u2019s baseline <\/span>web filters<\/span><\/a> will automatically apply. These prevent access to sites with <\/span>concerning content<\/span><\/a> like:<\/span><\/p>\n