Macbook Parental Controls - 2022 Ventura Guide
Why should you be using the parental controls on your childs laptop?
An unprotected laptop can be a dangerous tool in the hands of a child. That’s where Macbook parental controls come into play, to help you keep your child safe.
As a parent, its understandable that one would be worried about the experiences their children might have on a laptop. The internet is a vast, exciting, and scary place. It’s important to make sure you are aware of your childrens activities on the web.
Here are just a few reasons (of many) that you should be utilizing the parental controls on your laptop.
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To Monitor Activity: Parental controls enable you to monitor what websites your child is visiting, what apps they are downloading, and what content they are viewing. This is important to ensure that your child is not exposed to inappropriate content and is staying safe online. You can also use parental controls to limit the amount of time your child spends online.
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To Protect Personal Information: Parental controls can help protect your child’s personal information by blocking access to websites that require personal information such as name, address, and credit card numbers. This helps to keep your child safe from identity theft and other online scams.
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To Prevent Unauthorized Purchases: Parental controls can be used to prevent your child from making unauthorized purchases. You can set up a password that must be entered before any purchases can be made. This will help to reduce the chances of your child making costly mistakes.
Luckily, MacOS has features built into the operating system that will help you keep your child safe. We’ll be going over these features here so you are aware of what tools you have.
There is also 3rd party software you can download to assist in protecting your child from their Macbook. We provided some recommendations below of the best Macbook parent controls for 2022.
What is macOS Ventura 13
MacOS Ventura 13 was released on August 24th, 2022, and is the latest version of Apple’s operating system for Mac computers.
It features major improvements to user experience and security in many aspects of the operating system, including upgrades to Mail, Messages, Spotlight, Safari, and the introduction of Passkeys.
We’ll be focusing on this operating system since it is the latest at the time of writing. Please be sure to refer to Apple Support if you have a newer version and these techniques are outdated.
Screen Time in macOS Ventura 13
Screen Time is a feature of macOS that was first introduced with the release of macOS Catalina in 2019.
It allows users to track their device usage, set time limits for apps, and limit access to certain apps or content. It is designed to help users manage their time and develop healthier digital habits.
Luckily for us Screen TIme also allows users to set daily time limits for apps, categorize apps as “always allowed” or “always blocked”, and set content and privacy restrictions.
We can limit app access to certain times of the day, set a downtime period that blocks access to apps, and set communication limits for contacts.
Screen Time is a fantastic tool for controlling your childs activities while on a Macbook (or any Apple device for that matter!).
Options for Screen Time can be found in System Preferences. Here you can enable/disable the feature, set a passcode so that your child can’t change the settings, and monitor/limit usage.
One of the great features of Screen Time is that your child can request more time from their Macbook and it will send the request to your device.
This means that if its the weekend or a night that your child should be allowed more time to relax or stay online, they can notify you and you can approve the action.
Here is a list of more options that Screen Time offers you to to manage:
- Web content
- Purchases
- Apps
- Other
- Set Passcode
- Manage Account
- Cellular Data
- Driving Focus
- TV Provider
- Background App Activity
Overall, Screen Time is a powerful parent control tool that you should be utilizing to keep your child safe on their Macbook.
Find My in macOS Ventura 13
Find My was released in iOS 13 and is a feature on Apple devices that allows users to track the location of their Apple device if it has been lost or stolen. It can also be used as a parental control to track the location of your child.
Find My is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods. To use Find My, you must first enable the feature on the device.
On iPhone and iPad, you can enable Find My by going to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My iPhone and toggling the switch to the On position.
On Mac, you can enable Find My by going to System Preferences > iCloud > Find My Mac and toggling the switch to the On position.
Once Find My is enabled, you can use the Find My app or iCloud website to locate your device. The Find My app will show you a map of your device’s current location, as well as a list of recent locations. You can also see the device’s battery level and the last time it was located.
It’s advisable to use this feature on all your families devices, as you never know when they can be lost or stolen.
While it’s essential as tracking software for the device, it’s also luckily a good way to make sure you are aware of the location of your child as well.
3rd party parental control software
The built-in parental controls on a Macbook are great for providing basic protection for children and young adults who use the computer.
These controls allow parents to limit access to certain websites, block certain applications, restrict the amount of time a user can spend on the computer, and limit the amount of content that can be accessed.
They also allow parents to monitor their children’s activity on the computer, providing parents with a way to keep track of what their children are doing while they are away.
However, while the built-in parental controls are great for providing basic protection, 3rd party software can often offer more features and flexibility.
Many 3rd party software packages allow parents to customize their settings to fit their needs, allowing them to have more control over which websites and applications their children can access and how much time they can spend on the computer.
In addition, 3rd party software can also provide more detailed monitoring and reporting capabilities, allowing parents to monitor more closely their children’s activity on the computer.
Finally, 3rd party software can often provide more robust protection for the computer itself, allowing parents to protect their computers from malicious attacks, viruses, and other threats.
Here are a few recommendations of 3rd party software you should consider purchasing when shopping for Macbook parental controls in 2022:
Qustodio
Qustodio is an online monitoring and parental control software that helps parents and guardians monitor and manage their children’s online activity. It helps users set up filters to block certain websites, app usage, and online searches, while also providing real-time reports and notifications of any suspicious activity. It can also monitor text messages, calls, and location tracking.
Kaspersky Safe Kids
Kaspersky Safe Kids is a comprehensive parental control software designed to help parents monitor and manage their children’s online activities. It provides a range of features to help keep children away from inappropriate content, block access to dangerous websites, and control how much time kids spend online. It also allows parents to monitor their kids’ online activities, receive alerts when their kids reach risky websites, and set time limits for online activities. With Kaspersky Safe Kids, parents can ensure their kids are safe and secure online.
Norton Family Premier
Norton Family Premier is a software solution that helps protect children from online dangers. It provides parents with a suite of tools that allow them to monitor their children’s internet use and manage their online activities. It also allows parents to block access to inappropriate websites, set time limits, and even track their child’s online activities. Norton Family Premier also offers real-time alerts so parents can be notified of any suspicious activity. It also includes a variety of additional features such as location tracking, remote access, and parental control across multiple devices. Norton Family Premier is a great solution for parents that want to keep their children safe online and give them the freedom to explore the internet without worry.
Net Nanny Monitoring Software for Mac
Net Nanny Monitoring Software for Mac is a comprehensive monitoring and parental control software designed to help parents protect their children from potentially harmful content on the internet. It provides users with powerful features such as real-time monitoring, advanced filtering, time limits, and keyword alerts, allowing parents to keep track of their children’s online activities, restrict access to websites and applications, and set time limits for internet usage. The software also provides a comprehensive reporting system to help parents identify potential risks and take proactive steps to protect their children. Net Nanny Monitoring Software for Mac is an essential tool for any parent looking to safeguard their children’s online experiences.
A note about trust
Protecting a child can be a very scary job, and its understandable that part of that job means filtering what your child experiences early in their life.
Part of helping a child grow though also means we should eventually let them make discoveries and have experiences, within the safety of our reach.
Parental controls on your childs Macbook can be a great way to protect them, but shouldn’t be a way to isolate them or stop them from experiencing the world forever.
As a final note, please use these tools responsibly and avoid destroying the trust between yourself and your child.