During the Microsoft 365 digital event, the company made a few announcements. Out of which, the new Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions were launched on April 21st, and the remaining Family Safety app is being rolled out today. The new Family Safety app will be available as a preview app for selected iOS and Android users. People who can use it will receive emails with the download link.
What Is The Family Safety App, And What Users Will Get During The Preview Release?
Microsoft’s new Family Safety app will allow parents/adults to manage screen time for their children across Windows PCs, Xbox, Android, and iPhone devices. Further, it will provide driving reports, location sharing, device time analyses, and the ability to set limits.
During the preview release, all these features will be offered for Free. However, once the app gets finalized, users with Microsoft 365 Family subscription will be able to use premium features like location alerts and drive safety reports.
How to access the app?
To access the Family Safety app, you have to fill out a form by clicking here and set up a family in your Microsoft account settings. Here specify parents and kids with these specific accounts.
How will the app help?
Using Family Safety for preview parents will be able to set time limits and content controls, manage kids’ screen time, get reports on screen time and app usage, and turn on location sharing. The app’s sleek design, with a dark green color scheme, is appealing and looks very promising.
As the app is aggregated across Windows, Xbox, Android apps, and games, it will help parents keep track of the time spent on playing a game and set a screen time limit. Alongside, parents will be able to use content filters to restrict web searches and apps and game downloads.
The company says, “Microsoft Family Safety helps you to facilitate a dialogue with your kids about the time they are spending on their devices and type of content they are viewing. The app provides transparency on where everyone is spending time online and allows you to create flexible schedules to carve out more time for things like online learning. Additionally, it helps you stay connected even when you’re apart with location sharing.”
Benefits & Features of Family Safety app
Since this app syncs with Windows and Xbox devices, limiting screen time has become easy. Now 2 hours will mean 2 hours whether you play it on Windows PC, Xbox, or Android phone. However, if kids run out of screen time, they can request for more, and it’s up to parents whether they want to add more time or not.
Feature of Family Safety App
- Creates a safe space for our kids
- Filters inappropriate apps, websites, and games
- Allows setting age limit for downloads
- Activity reporting
When will the app be widely available?
Microsoft hasn’t said anything about the availability of the app in Google Play Store and App Store but using the preview build users will be able to gain access to the app and get to share feedback to help shape the product.
As this app will work on Windows, Xbox, and Android apps and games, managing screen time limits will be easy, and the web and search filters will help block kids from watching adult content. This will help parents to keep a check on their kids and allow them to play games. I think this is a helpful app. What do you think about it? Do share your feedback in the section below.