The new features will be available through Google’s Family Link, a service that allows kids to create Google accounts that are safe to use and can be monitored by their parents. Parents can also use the service to track their teens’ location. Though Family Link for kids offers parents a full range of control over what their kids and see and download, the controls are a bit less one-sided for teens. In order for parents to use the controls on Google users over 13 years old, their child must first give consent. Kids over 13 years old can turn off the monitoring, but there’s a catch. When they turn the parental controls off, not only will they be locked out of their phone for the next 24-hours, but their parents will also receive a notification. At the end of the day, while the new controls may vex some teens, the service is working in Google’s favor. This new rollout comes just days after Google was sued by the state of New Mexico for violating the rights of minors by downloading their data and using it illegally. While the company stands by the assertion that there was no wrongdoing on their part, the new service could stave off some concerns about a lack of transparency for parents.
