There is no doubt that screen time is going up and not down during the pandemic. With a large percentage of people working from home, it can seem impossible to monitor what the rest of your family is looking at online. To help you get a handle on all of this, Microsoft has been working on and testing their new ‘Family Safety App’.
The idea behind the app is to manage the time being spent on various screens and apps. The product has been undergoing tests for the last little while and will launch on the iOS and Android platforms. The app offers several helpful features. Parents can receive notifications and reports based on time spent on mobile devices, apps, and even Xbox game consoles. The idea is that your child isn’t reaching the limit of one platform and jumping to another to reset their time. The app will follow them across multiple devices.
If there are apps that you deem to be non-constructive, you also have the ability to fully block them. This could work well for several reasons, includin some ‘time out’ when you need to discipline your child.
Microsoft is also looking at functionality like tracking based on the device. The Family Safety App will show you not only where members of the family are but will also track places they go frequently. Microsoft assures us that this information will not be sold and that your privacy is of the utmost importance.
I realize that this may be a bit extreme, however I don’t mind this app at all. I think that there is a lot happening in the digital world recently that kids should be insulated from. Being able to monitor what your kids do online is important. This app is a good step forward to monitor their browsing activity, make sure they are not spending all day on certain apps, and even knowing where they are.
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