An Overview of Mac’s ⁠ Parental Controls ‌

Macs offer an excellent platform for kids to explore the ⁠ internet and dive into the world of technology. Despite this easy access, the necessity arises ⁠ to safeguard them against unsuitable material. Thankfully, macOS includes built-in parental controls that empower you to control the ⁠ content your child can access and monitor their screen time. ⁠

Set Up a Child ⁠ Account on an Apple computer

To begin, you should make an ⁠ individual account for your child. You can maintain uninterrupted browsing and app ⁠ usage by implementing these restrictions. The process may vary depending on the ⁠ macOS version you are using: ‌

macOS Catalina and later:  Access System Preferences > ⁠ User Management. ⁠
Click on the lock to make changes, ⁠ Provide your password as instructed. ​
Press the ‘+’ symbol to ⁠ create a new account. ​
Provide an account name and password, and ⁠ choose “Standard” as the account type. ⁠
Click on “Create User.” ‍
macOS Mojave or earlier: ‌

Go to System Preferences ⁠ > Parental Controls. ​
Follow the same process as detailed previously to ⁠ establish an account specifically for children. ‍

An efficient method for protecting your child and controlling ⁠ preferences on Apple devices is through Family Sharing. Each family member needs to have their Apple ID ⁠ to maintain efficient performance of Family Sharing. ‍

To set up ⁠ Family Sharing: ‍

Launch System Preferences then go ⁠ to Family Sharing. ‌
Press on the addition symbol (‘+’) that can ⁠ be found beneath the Family category. below the Family section. ​
Create a child account by ⁠ following the on-screen instructions. ‍
Provide parental consent, containing the security pin ⁠ pertaining to the connected payment method. ‌
Give consent to the terms and conditions, and enable ⁠ “Ask to Buy” for regulating their acquisitions. ‍

Set Up Parental ⁠ Controls (Using Family Sharing) ⁠

If you’ve set up Family Sharing, you ⁠ can set up parental controls easily: ‍

Verify you are logged into ⁠ your Apple identification.
Launch System Preferences > ⁠ Screen Time. ​
Click on “Options” and select “Share across devices” ⁠ for effectively managing preferences across multiple devices. ​
Pick the child’s account from ⁠ the options provided. ‍
Click “Turn On” to enable Screen ⁠ Time and manage other options.

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Set Up Parental ⁠ Controls (Without Family Sharing)

If you prefer not to use Family Sharing, follow ⁠ these steps to set up parental controls: ​

Enter your child’s Mac ⁠ user account. ‌
For those who have macOS Catalina or later installed, ⁠ go to System Preferences > Screen Time.
Enable Screen Time and configure options such ⁠ as Downtime and App Limits. ‌
If using macOS Mojave or earlier, navigate to System Preferences ⁠ and access Parental Controls, then modify the settings accordingly ‌

Now that you have the basic parental controls set up, ⁠ it’s time to tailor them to suit your requirements: ⁠

Downtime: Establish precise intervals when the ⁠ Mac is unavailable for use. Access the Screen Time > Downtime ⁠ section to modify this feature. for adjusting this feature. ​

App Limits: Control the amount of time your child ⁠ spends on specific apps or app categories. Navigate to Screen Time > App ⁠ Limits to adjust these settings. ​

Communication Limits: Determine who your child can ⁠ communicate with during Screen Time hours. To control this feature, go to the Communication ⁠ Limits option within the Screen Time settings. ​

Always Allowed: Enable unrestricted usage of specific apps with ⁠ these methods: to Screen Time > Always Allowed.

Image by:https://www.macworld.com/

Set Up Website ⁠ Restrictions and Bans ​

The Content & Privacy section allows you to decide ⁠ the type of content your child can access: ‌

Enable Content & Privacy by ⁠ entering the passcode. ​
Pick the desired limitations, such as Block inappropriate websites ⁠ or Only allow access to permitted websites. ‍
Modify website browsing by ⁠ adding child-friendly sites. ‌
Most popular Parental Control Apps designed ⁠ specifically for Mac Users ‍

If you need additional features and cross-platform support, ⁠ consider these third-party parental control apps: ‌

Qustodio: Offers comprehensive features and works on iOS, ⁠ macOS, Windows, Android, and Amazon Kindle devices. ‌

Net Nanny: Provides screen time limits, content filtering, ⁠ and real-time monitoring across various devices. ​

FamiSafe: Offers web filtering, location tracking, screen time ⁠ limits, and more across multiple platforms. ‍

By utilizing either the native capabilities of macOS or third-party applications, you can effectively ⁠ protect your child by implementing parental controls, your child’s safety can be guaranteed. An alternative is to establish a ⁠ protected online setting for them. However, remember to stay vigilant and educate your child ⁠ about online risks and responsible device usage. ​