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Set up parental controls on the apps your kid actually uses

A platform-by-platform checklist for the controls that matter most: chat, friends, purchases, and location.

About 30 minutes · 5 steps

RobloxMinecraftFortniteDiscordSnapchatInstagramYouTube

0 of 5 done

  1. Start with the account, not the device

    Create the child's account under your supervision where possible (Family Center on Discord/Snapchat/Meta, supervised Google/YouTube accounts, Microsoft Family for Minecraft/Xbox). Supervision links the account to yours so settings can't be silently changed.

  2. Lock down chat and friends

    Default to friends-only or off for chat and voice. On Roblox use Account Restrictions and a PIN; on Fortnite set voice to friends-only and turn off 'fill'; on Discord set DMs to friends and the content filter to its strictest level.

  3. Lock down purchases

    Require a password/PIN for every purchase and remove stored payment methods. This defuses most 'free Robux/V-Bucks' scams in one step.

  4. Turn off location sharing

    Enable Ghost Mode on Snapchat, turn off precise location and tagging on Instagram, and review app-level location permissions on the phone.

  5. Revisit quarterly

    Apps add features and reset defaults. Put a recurring 15-minute review on your calendar and do it together with your child.