Android

What is Android?

Android is the operating system that runs on most smartphones and tablets outside of Apple — including Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus and many others. It’s not a single app, but the device itself. Everything starts here: apps, browser, Google account, payments and communication.

Giving a child an Android phone means giving them access to the Google Play Store, Chrome, YouTube, Gmail and much more — all linked to a single Google account.

Why do kids want one?

• Communication — messaging, calls and social media require a smartphone.
• Apps and games — access to millions of apps via the Google Play Store.
• Affordable — Android phones come in all price ranges and are often cheaper than an iPhone.
• Customisation — Android lets you change the home screen, widgets and themes. Children like making the phone “their own”.
• Friends have one — many children want whatever their friends are already using.

What are the real risks?

• Apps, browser and content — Google Play, Chrome and YouTube give broad access to apps, websites and media that are not always suitable for children.
• Apps outside the usual store flow — Android can, in some cases, allow installation outside the usual approval flow, which can weaken filters and security controls if settings are not locked down.
• Google account and permissions — one account connects YouTube, Gmail, Google Drive, Maps and app permissions such as camera, microphone and location.
• Payments — Google Wallet and in-app purchases can let a child spend money if payment controls are not set up.

Settings to check

1. Create Google Family Link first: Create a child-friendly Google account through Family Link. It gives you control over apps, screen time and settings from your own phone.
2. Require app approval: In Family Link, require approval for all new apps your child wants to download from Google Play.
3. Set Google Play content restrictions: Family Link → Google Play settings → set age limits for apps, films, books and music.
4. Enable SafeSearch and site blocking: Family Link → Chrome settings → enable SafeSearch and block specific websites. An approved-sites-only mode can also be enabled.
5. View location in Family Link: View your child’s location in Family Link.
6. Set screen time and bedtime: Set daily time limits and a bedtime when the phone locks. Both are managed in Family Link.
7. Lock the device remotely: Family Link lets you lock the phone immediately from your own device.
8. Set up YouTube supervised experience: Set up YouTube Supervised Experience in Family Link to restrict available content.
9. Enable Google SafeSearch: Enable SafeSearch in Google search settings.
10. Limit Nearby Share / Quick Share: Set to “Contacts only” in the phone’s settings to prevent strangers from sending files.
11. Review app permissions: Regularly check which apps have access to the camera, microphone and location. Settings → Apps → Permissions.

How to talk about it

“Which apps do you use most right now, and what do you like about them?”

“What do you do if you get messages or files from someone you don’t know?”

“How do you think we should talk about location, app permissions and what I can see in Family Link?”

Last reviewed: July 2026