How to set up TikTok Family Pairing: screen time, Restricted Mode and privacy
Link your TikTok account to your teen's with Family Pairing, then set screen time, Restricted Mode and tighter DM/privacy controls.
Philip Nixon
How to set up Xbox Family Settings: chat, multiplayer, spending and screen time
Create a Microsoft family group, lock down Xbox multiplayer and chat, set PEGI filters, Ask to buy and screen time.
How to set up YouTube supervised accounts: content settings for kids and teens
Move from YouTube Kids to a supervised YouTube account with Older kids, Teens or Older teens content settings — and lock the device side too.
How to set up Fortnite parental controls: chat, spending, friends and screen time
Lock down Fortnite chat, friend requests, spending and screen time in about 20 minutes, plus the console settings Fortnite doesn't cover.
How to talk to your child about screens: conversation starters, boundaries and what to do when things go wrong
Conversation starters, boundaries and what to say when things go wrong, based on NSPCC, Internet Matters, Parent Zone and UK government advice.
How to make a family tech plan: map your household's devices and apps on one sheet
A one-sheet template to map every device and app in your home, tick off account, content, contact, spending and time, and agree house rules together.
How to use App Store and Google Play age ratings (plus Apple Arcade and Family Library) to filter apps for your child
How Apple's 4+ to 18+ and Google Play's PEGI ratings work, how to set them for your child, and how Apple Arcade and Family Library fit in.
How to manage GTA Online for your child: age rating, chat, strangers and Shark Card spending
GTA Online is PEGI 18 with no Rockstar parental PIN. Use console controls, Invite Only sessions, voice chat set to No One, and spending limits on Shark Cards.
How to set up Call of Duty and Warzone parental controls: chat, cross-play, spending and screen time
Call of Duty and Warzone are PEGI 18. If your teen plays, set console controls first, then switch off voice and text chat, filter content and block COD Points spending.
How to set up Steam parental controls (Steam Families) on PC and Steam Deck: games, chat, playtime and spending
Set up Steam Families parental controls on PC and Steam Deck: choose games, restrict Store and chat, set playtime limits, approve purchases and lock Desktop Mode.
How to filter your whole home Wi-Fi with OpenDNS FamilyShield (works with any broadband provider)
Point your router at OpenDNS FamilyShield (208.67.222.123 / 208.67.220.123) to filter adult content on every device on your Wi-Fi.
How to set up TalkTalk and Plusnet parental controls: HomeSafe Kids Safe and Plusnet SafeGuard
Set up TalkTalk HomeSafe Kids Safe and Homework Time, or Plusnet SafeGuard categories and Timer — with the key differences side by side.