Access to the Google TV kids section requires that your child have either a Google account or profile managed with Family Link.Google One family plan. Casting optimized for selected services only. Compatible smart device required. Subscription(s) are required to access certain content. To see personal photos, Google Photos required.
![]() Tap the Settings icon and then Set Daily Time Limits to choose an amount of time, also in 15-minute increments.Apple does things a little differently in Screen Time. Amazon FreeTime is similar, but divides its time into weekdays and weekends rather than individual days. This is the only one of the three that gives each day its own toggle, so you don’t have to nuke the whole thing to adjust for a holiday or a snow day. Once the allotted time has been used, the device will display a message telling them that they can no longer use it.With Family Link, parents can tap on the Edit Limits button to set total screen time per day (in 15-minute increments). Inside each you’ll find an array of toggles, switches, and dials to set limits on how long your child can use their device each day. Screen Time, Family Link vs FreeTime: Daily limits IDGOnce the accounts and devices are set up, the fun can begin (for parents, anyway). Once the limit has been reached a full-screen message will inform them that their time is up.Apple, on the other hand, is all about individual apps. Amazon lets you set limits by activity type, so you can set different timers for apps, audio books, reading books, watching videos, and using the web, but you can’t limit individual apps. Family Link is the only one of the three that doesn’t let you set a limit by app or app category, so you’ll need to constantly adjust your daily limits to give more time for a specific app. Screen Time, Family Link vs FreeTime: Shut down apps IDGAll three options let you completely remove apps from your kid’s device, but limiting them is a little trickier. I preferred Family Link daily limits, which were easier to adjust on the fly. Apple doesn’t restrict you to 15-minute increments, either, so you may micro-manage your kid to exactly 37 minutes of game time, no more, no less.Winner: My son liked Apple’s method best because he could switch from playing games to watching videos when one timer ran out. Remote desktop for mac high sierraScreen Time, Family Link vs FreeTime: Shut down device IDGA kill switch is super-important, but they don’t all have one. I preferred Apple’s ability to limit individual apps, and my son liked being able to use his tablet after a timer was reached. Apps that have met their limit will be grayed-out, with a small Screen Time hourglass icon next to them.Winner: We both liked Screen Time best. But at least your kid won’t be penalized for the time they spend switching apps or just plain spacing out. The only drawback is Apple doesn’t let you see which apps are inside each category if there are more than two, so it’s a bit of a guessing game at first. They’re both simple and easy, but I slightly preferred Amazon’s method of choosing an interval of time rather than Google’s all-or-nothing option. Apple, unfortunately, doesn’t offer a way to shut down the device instantly, so you’ll need to adjust the All Apps & Categories time limit accordingly if you want a quick shut-down.Winner: Not having a shut-down switch is a glaring oversight in Screen Time, so despite my son’s preference for my fumbling, Family Link and FreeTime both come out ahead. Amazon lets you set a shutdown period of 1 to 12 hours, while Google will shut it down until the following day’s Bed Time (though both methods can be overridden if you have a change of heart). Google Family Link Code That ParentsTap it and you can extend their session by 15 minutes, an hour, all day, or decline their request.Winner: My son loved the ability to request more time, and I agree. If they tap the Ask for more time button, they’ll send a message to their parents that will appear as a notification. On Family Link, they’ll need to enter a one-time expiring access code that parents can find in the sidebar of the Family Link app on their phone.Apple, on the other hand, lets kids send a message to their parents requesting additional time. On your child’s Amazon device, they need you to enter the master PIN. ![]() Screen Time, Family Link vs FreeTime: Age filter IDGBecause all three system are designed to be used by kids under 13, they have robust filters to block out unsavory apps and web content. Amazon FreeTime’s Bedtime mode is a harsh shut-down with no ability to use the device.Winner: Using devices at bedtime isn’t really an issue with my son, but if it were, Screen Time’s extra options and flexibility would win out. Apple similarly lets you set apps that are always available, though there is an option to shut down the device completely, phone and all. Google’s Family Link doesn’t have a specific age filter, but it lets you put restrictions on search and Chrome to block mature sites with explicit material, or approve only certain sites (like Disney, for example) and block all others. I found that my son’s actual age was a little too young, so you may need to adjust accordingly. That will limit what they can see in FreeTime Unlimited books and curated web content using Amazon’s algorithms and pre-set age ranges for their content. ![]()
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