Google’s Play Store is the largest app store in the world serving over a billion active users daily. The Play Store specializes in distributing games and apps on the Android platform. As of date, Google Play provides over 3.3 million apps/games to users. Today, Play Store has become more accessible. And even underage kids can access it, which has raised some significant issues. Lately, it has been observed that there are some games containing violence, in the Play Store that aren’t appropriate for minor kids. It can harm their minds. With cases of unauthorized purchases by minors where the purchase amounts were huge, Google has some features that can help in avoiding such disasters. In this article, we will talk about how to use Google Play Parental Control effectively for minors.
In Google Play, one can use the ‘Parental Control’ for controlling the contents and the ‘Authorisation’ feature which requires the user’s consent before making any purchases. Both options can be set on the Play Store app itself and it doesn’t require other applications. So, let’s check out how to use them.
Parental Control
The Parental Control is the feature that controls the content that’ll be accessible through the device. Depending on different maturity levels, Google has different content rating categories for each of them which can be found below.
Setting The Parental Control
Setting up Parental control for minors in Google Play is super easy. Within a few steps, the device will be in the parents’ control. To set the parental control follow the steps:
- Step 1: Open Google Play Store on the device.
- Step 2: Navigate the menu and open settings. Scroll to family and select the parental control.
- Step 3: Enable the parental control option. It’ll require the user to set a 4 digit pin code as desired. (The same pin would be required while disabling the option).
- Step 4: In the last step, one needs to choose the age restriction bar they want to set on the device.
Google has five content rating categories that focus on different maturity levels. Players might choose any of them.
- Rated for 3+: Suitable for all age groups. Some violence in a comical or fantasy context is acceptable. Bad language is not permitted.
- Rated for 7+: It might contain some scenes or sounds that are frightening for children. Mild violence (implied or non-realistic) is permitted.
- Rated for 12+: Violence involving fantasy characters and/or non-graphic violence involving human-looking characters or animals is permitted. Non-graphic nudity, mild language and simulated gambling are also permitted, whereas sexual expletives are not.
- Rated for 16+: Realistic violence, sexual activity, strong language, use of tobacco and drugs, and the depiction of criminal activities are permitted.
- Rated for 18+: Graphic violence, including depictions, lacking motive and/or directed towards defenceless. characters and sexual violence are permitted. It may also include graphic sexual content, discriminatory acts and/or the glamorization of illegal drug use.
**Although the content rating varies by countries and regions, this standard rating is applicable widely.
Prevention of unauthorised purchases
Google has another feature that would require authorisation before making any purchases in the Play Store. This authorisation can be in the form of a password or any other information, which is set by the user.
Enabling The Authorisation Option
To set up this feature, follow the steps given below:
- Step 1: Open the Google Play Store. Navigate to the Settings menu.
- Step 2: Select the User Controls option. Enable the Require authorization for purchases.
- Step 3: Select For all purchases through Google Play on this device
- Step 4: To set this up, confirm it by the Google account’s password.
The option will make authorisation mandatory for every purchase that’ll be made through the Play Store.
How does it affect downloading games
When the parental control is active on the device, only games within the set age bar will appear in the store. Here’s an example of it. Call Of Duty: Mobile‘ is a game that is rated 16+ in the play store. It contains realistic violence, user interaction and in-game purchases that may not be appropriate for players who are under age. As you can see below, the game is available in the play store normally.
However, after setting the parental control for minors, the game won’t be accessible through the device anymore in the Play Store. Even after when tried forcefully to open the game, it’ll appear like this.
Therefore, setting up these two above mentioned things in the devices can help in avoiding any unwanted crisis for parents.
Did you like our piece on setting up Parental Control in Google Play? Let us know in the comments below.
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