Facebook is a space where families and friends can stay connected, but it also presents some dangers if not used correctly. Thankfully, Facebook offers parental controls that can help you keep your child from harm. We'll walk you through the steps necessary to set up Facebook parental controls for your child's account and keep your child safe online.
Does Facebook have parental controls?
Yes, Facebook does have parental controls. Parents can use these to protect their children from harm while using the site. There are different types of parental controls that Facebook offers and we'll discuss them below.
What restrictions can I apply to my child’s Facebook?
There are several different types of restrictions that parents can apply to their child’s Facebook account. Some of these include:
- Limiting who can see your child’s profile
- Controlling who can send your child messages
- Limiting what types of content your child can see
- Blocking certain websites from being accessed through Facebook
These help keep your child safe on their mobile phones and other devices they may use for Facebook.
Is Facebook safe for kids?
Facebook can be safe for kids — if you take precautions to set up parental controls and talk to your child about online safety. However, it's important to remember that no website is completely free of dangers, so use caution when allowing your child to use any social media platforms.
If you're still unsure about the safety of Facebook, you can download one of the parental control apps for iPhone and Android to keep them from accessing the social media platform or downloading the app. Or, keep a close eye on their usage with apps that monitor mobile phone usage.
Who can connect, chat, and share photos and videos with my child on Facebook?
The default settings for a child’s Facebook account lets anyone connect with them. Anyone can send your child a friend request, which, if accepted, would give that person access to all of your child’s public information. If you want to change this so that only friends and friends of friends can connect with your child, go to the “Privacy” settings page and select the “Friends of Friends” option under "Who can send you friend requests?".
People will need to be friends with your child on Facebook to chat directly with them. But, if someone is not friends with your child, they can still send them messages that go to a separate inbox that can be checked.
When you set up parental controls on your child’s Facebook account, decide who is allowed to connect, chat, and share photos and videos with them. You can also block certain people from contacting your child through Facebook. Remember, you can always change these settings in the future.
How to set up parental controls on Facebook
Here's how you can set up the following parental controls on Facebook:
Review privacy settings
To make sure your child's account is set to private, go to their profile and review their privacy settings. Click the Facebook logo in the top right corner. Select Settings & Privacy from the drop-down menu, then choose Settings. Select the desired settings under the "privacy" section.
Manage screen time
You can also set limits on how much time your child spends on Facebook each day. Go to the "Your time on Facebook" page. Here, you can see how much time your child has spent on Facebook in the past week, set daily limits, and get alerts when they've reached their limit. You can also turn off notifications for when friends are active so they're not tempted to keep checking the site.
You can also set up the integrated parental controls on your child's iPhone or iPad - including "Screen Time" to see their mobile phone and app usage.
Set location tracking off
If you're concerned about your child's safety, turn off location tracking for their account. Go to the "Location" tab in "Settings" to see if location tracking is turned on and turn it off if it is. You can also choose to never allow Facebook to access your child's location information.
Manage who sees their posts
By default, anyone can see what your child posts on Facebook. If you want to change this, go to the "Privacy" settings page and select who can see their posts under the "Your Activity" section. This will apply to all future posts, but you can also go back and change the privacy settings for individual posts.
Manage who sees their profile
Tap your child's name in the top right corner of their Facebook account and select Edit Profile. Scroll down and tap the "Edit Your Profile Info" button. There, you may edit, remove or add information — as well as set the privacy setting for each piece of information.
Set up who can send your child a friend request
By default, anyone can send your child a friend request on Facebook. If you want to change this, go to the "Privacy" settings tab in "Settings" and select who can send you friend requests under the "How people can find and contact you" section.
Block inappropriate users
If there are people you don't want your child to be friends with, you can block them. To do this, go to the "Blocking" tab in "Settings". Here, you can enter the name or email address of the person you want to block and they will no longer be able to see your child's profile, posts, or contact them. You can also block messages from certain people by adding them to your child's "Restricted List". This will allow them to see your child's posts, but they won't be able to message them.
Learn more about GoHenry’s parental controls
GoHenry is a prepaid debit card for kids that comes with parental controls to give you oversight of your child’s spending. This gives them some independence, while helping you to prevent overspending both offline and online, including on Facebook.
From daily spending limits to maximum transaction settings, you can tailor GoHenry controls for maximum peace of mind. Plus, you can block merchants and set spend notifications to know exactly where and when your child is spending.
Learn more about the GoHenry prepaid kids debit card today!
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