Short steps you can follow with your child’s phone in your hand. Each guide tells you what to tap, what to look for, and what to do if something does not match.
Want to understand what an app or game is first? Go to Apps and games — plain-language explanations without the jargon.
Need to run an interactive check? Check →
Roblox can cap how much money your child spends inside the game. That cap does not cover the App Store, Google Play, or gift cards. Gift cards and purchases outside the game are still your responsibility — check those separately.
Pick an app or game — and find the guide for what you want to do.
How to set up Snapchat safely
Snapchat is for photos, video and chat — many messages disappear, but you can still review contacts and habits together. Family Center is Snapchat’s own parent tool. It does not replace conversation — but gives you something concrete to talk from.
How to turn Snap Map off
Snap Map can show your child’s location to other Snapchat users. This is how you limit who can see it. It takes a few minutes on your child’s phone — Ghost Mode must be set there.
How to limit spending in Roblox
Roblox can cap how much money your child spends inside the game. That cap does not cover the App Store, Google Play, or gift cards. Gift cards and purchases outside the game are still your responsibility — check those separately.
Understand game currency — Robux, V-Bucks and coins
“Just Robux” or “a few hundred V-Bucks” often sounds small. Game currency is bought with real money — and can add up fast without caps. That is normal — many parents notice it first on the receipt.
iPhone, iPad, Android and screen time — settings you can change at home.
Parental controls on Android
Android can look different on Samsung, Pixel and others — but Family Link is the common starting point for most families. Brand-specific menus may sit alongside — what matters most is which account your child uses.
How does Family Link work?
Family Link is not an app your child “has”. It is Google’s way for you to manage their Google account: screen time, apps and purchases. You manage from your own phone — your child does not need to give you their password.
PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC — parental controls and spending.
Privacy check for your child’s profiles
Most apps have settings your child can change themselves. A quick check together often takes 10–15 minutes per app — and shows what others can actually see. That is better than guessing or looking behind their back.
How to find and cancel subscriptions
Subscriptions from apps and games can be hard to find — especially when they renew automatically. Here is the path on iPhone and Android. It often takes only a few minutes to get an overview once you know where to look.
When something has already happened — practical next steps.
My child’s account has been hacked
If someone else is in the account, the first step is to lock them out — not to message them. Stay calm: most accounts can be recovered if you act quickly.
Scams
A scam can look like a friend, a shop or a game. Do not “test” the link. Many scammers push for urgency — that is a sign in itself.
Cyberbullying
The first job is that your child feels safe. Then you can keep what happened and use the app’s own buttons. Online bullying often feels more isolating — say you believe them.
Threats or grooming
If a stranger is pressuring, threatening or asking to meet, this is not something to handle alone in the chat. It is serious — and help is available straight away.
Private images shared
If a private image has been shared, the job is to stop the spread and protect your child — not blame first. Many children stay quiet because they fear the reaction.
AI-generated nude image
If someone has made a nude image of your child with AI, it is serious even if it “isn’t real”. Your child needs you to take it seriously — not a technical debate.
Unexpected purchases
Unexpected charges often come from a game, a saved card, or an account your child is signed in to. It happens more often than many think — and can often be stopped going forward.
Gambling, loot boxes and gambling harm
In-game purchases and gambling can look similar on the phone, but they are not the same. Robux and V-Bucks are game currency. Casinos, betting and sites where skins are staked for real money are gambling. It can be hard to tell them apart — it is okay to call and ask.